Harrogate jeweller not warned about ‘terrifying’ police VIP exercise

A Harrogate jeweller has spoken of her terror when specialist officers took over her shop as part of a VIP training exercise.

Mona Norman, who owns Fogal & Barnes on Oxford Street, spotted the plain clothed officers on the street before they made their way into her shop on Tuesday morning.

She said she had no warning so feared, with one of the officers blocking the door, that she was going to be the victim of a robbery.

The Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) had planned the visit in advance but did not tell Mrs Norman.

Harrogate is often the stage for such training exercises. However, the unit should have asked for permission in advance.

A senior officer on behalf of the CDSOU has since apologised to Mrs Norman and admitted that it fell short of standards.

Mona Norman, who owns Fogal & Barnes, with her guard dog.

Mrs Norman told the Stray Ferret:

“They looked really suspicious so I kept my eye on them. All of a sudden a couple of them got into the shop. One of them was wearing a bulletproof vest and blocked the door.

“It was really intimidating. I told them I was not comfortable and asked them to leave my shop but the person who said he was a VIP was trying to keep me quiet.

“So I pushed them out, called the police and pressed my panic button. Four of them left but two of them stayed outside so I kept questioning them.

“When I told them I had called the police he said ‘okay, calm down’ and gave me a card to explain but I was still unsure so got him to produce his badge.

“I was terrified, I was petrified. That’s how they made me feel. I thought they were going to rob me. It was awful.”

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She said she lost money during the two hour long training exercise and believes that she deserves compensation from the police.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said in response:

“The Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit is one of the national delivery centres for close protection officer training, and trains officers from several police forces across the country.

“As well as classroom-based learning, the course also involves practical, real-world scenarios in public places, like shops, hotels, and restaurants, which are carefully planned and risk assessed.

“As officers are in plain-clothes, they should identify themselves as police officers if approached by a member of the public.

“We are sorry that the actions of some of the officers involved have fallen short of the high standards that are expected on the course, and we apologise for the alarm that it has caused.

“A senior officer has since spoken to the owner of the shop to apologise on behalf of the unit, and those on the course have been debriefed to identify learning opportunities for future courses.”

Harrogate services back on track after person hit by train

Harrogate services are back on track after a person was hit by a train this morning near Leeds.

Trains on the Northern line between York, Harrogate and Leeds as well as the LNER line between London and Leeds were cancelled.

The incident was first reported to British Transport Police (BTP) at 8am. Full service was restored shortly after 10am.

Paramedics also attended reports of a casualty on the tracks near Horsforth in Leeds and took the person to hospital.

BTP has since said it is not currently treating the incident as suspicious.

While the line is now clear, it is likely that there will continue to be disruption between Harrogate and Leeds for the rest of the day.

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British Transport Police (BTP) said in a statement:

“British Transport Police were called to the line in Leeds at 7.59am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended, and a person has been taken to a local hospital.

“This incident is not being treated as suspicious.”

National Rail said in a statement:

“The emergency services have dealt with the incident between Horsforth and Leeds and all lines have reopened.

“Trains between Harrogate and Leeds may continue to be delayed, cancelled or revised whilst the service returns to normal.”

Two men taken to hospital after Starbeck car crash

Two men have been taken to hospital after a crash involving two cars in Starbeck.

It happened at about midday today at the junction of High Street and The Avenue.

A police officer at the scene told the Stray Ferret the crash occurred when a car on The Avenue pulled out onto High Street.

The officer added the male driver of one of the vehicles, and his male passenger, had been taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be serious.

A female driver of the other car did not require hospital, the officer said.

Traffic was heavy shortly after the incident but by 1pm it had returned to normal, with the damaged cars moved to the side of the road.

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Police take man into custody after rooftop standoff in Harrogate

Police have taken a man into custody after a two-hour rooftop standoff in Harrogate this afternoon.

The incident forced police to close off Belmont Road and nearby Belmont Close and Cold Bath Road while a negotiator talked the man down.

Residents reported a heavy prescence from the emergency services just before 1pm. There were multiple fire engines, police cars and ambulances in the area.

It was around 3pm when officers handcuffed the suspect and took him away in a police van. All three roads are now open again.

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A police spokesperson said:

“The incident in Belmont Road has now been brought to a safe conclusion and the roads have reopened.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. The man has been taken into police custody.”

An eyewitness on Cold Bath Road told the Stray Ferret:

“I came to pick up my child from school and saw lots of police cars, a few fire engines and ambulances.

“Just then I saw a man being taken into the back of a police van in handcuffs. He was up on the roof.

“So the incident seems to be over now and Cold Bath Road is open to traffic, nice and busy again.”

The incident in pictures:

120 marathons in 120 days: Harrogate man set for Herculean challenge

A retired Harrogate police officer is set to take on the Herculean feat of completing 120 marathons in 120 days.

Graham Wilson, 54, intends to walk and run 26.5 miles a day every day for four months, starting in his hometown of Harrogate on Saturday.

The 120 marathons challenge, which is the equivalent of 3,180 miles, is back on track after a 15-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

His wife Marion and dog Tilly will support him from the sidelines for the next four months and will also join in at times.

After starting in Harrogate, Graham will complete three marathons in North Yorkshire before heading off in a van across 48 counties in England.

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He also plans to cover the marathon distance in parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland, if covid travel rules permit.

The last marathon will be in Harrogate on October 23. So far, Graham has raised more than £40,000 for 15 charities. He said:

“I’ve always been into long-distance hiking. Now that I’ve retired from the police I want to do something to raise money for charities which I’ve come across.

“This includes the British Heart Foundation, which I’ve got a personal connection to after my dad experienced a heart attack when he was just 39.

“He sadly later passed away from a cardiac arrest, and I’ve also lost grandparents to heart disease too.

“I know the devastating impact these conditions can have and how important the BHF’s research is in finding better treatments and preventions to save more lives.”

The marathon challenge will also support Macmillan Cancer Support, Tiny Life, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Living with CAH, Harrogate Homeless Project, Disability Sports Yorkshire, and numerous art groups.

You can donate here.

Mum’s shock at finding blood after Jennyfields attack

A woman who found blood on a walk with her daughter near a crime scene in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate today has spoken of her shock.

Two men suffered head injuries and cuts to their bodies following a disturbance in the Grantley Drive area late last night. The police helicopter was deployed and two other men were arrested on suspicion of wounding.

Police cordons remained in place this afternoon on the footpath opposite the Co-op store on Jennyfield Drive, with officers on site.

The Stray Ferret went to Jennyfields and spoke to a resident who requested anonymity. She said:

“It was quite a shock. When I went out earlier with my daughter they had cordoned off part of the path because there was blood.

“Then my daughter and I found blood on the path. So we put a chair there and told officers, who have cordoned it off.”

The circumstances surrounding last night’s incident remain unclear. The woman said:

“There was a lot of commotion. There was a guy outside at around 8pm who was screaming down his phone.

“It’s just sad if it is someone who has been badly hurt but I don’t know what happened.”

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Officers were called to Grantley Drive by the ambulance service at 11.20pm.

North Yorkshire Police arrested two men aged 51 and 44 at about 1am on suspicion of wounding.

The 51-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon said both men remained in custody. It added:

“The victims were taken to hospital for treatment, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

More pictures from the scene:

Police were called to the Grantley Drive area of Jennyfields last night.

Police on the footpath next to Jennyfield Drive and Bramham Drive. Officers were called to the Grantley Drive area last night.

Teens arrested in Harrogate after Kinder eggs stuffed with heroin found

Police in Harrogate have arrested two boys aged 15 and 16 after finding Kinder eggs stuffed with suspected heroin and crack cocaine.

Plain clothed officers from North Yorkshire Police‘s county lines drug dealing unit Operation Expedite noticed the boys acting suspiciously on Thursday.

The suspects ran away but were caught after a chase on foot.

A police statement today said when officers caught the boys they found two Kinder eggs stuffed with suspected heroin and crack cocaine wraps, as well as knuckle dusters.

Police believe the unnamed boys, who are both from West Yorkshire, are involved in bringing drugs from another county into Harrogate.

Police arrested the 16-year-old on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and possessing an offensive weapon.

The officers also arrested the 15-year-old on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

They were released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

County lines is where drug dealers from urban areas exploit vulnerable people, including children, and force them to deal drugs in smaller towns.

It takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise their drugs for sale.

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Champagne thief strikes in Harrogate supermarket

Police have appealed for information after champagne and spirits worth more than £800 were stolen from a supermarket in Harrogate.

The theft took place at Morrisons on Hookstone Road in Starbeck at about 10.30am on Thursday April 22.

Officers have released CCTV footage of two men they would like to speak to. They believe the men “hold information which would be of assistance to the investigation”.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“While it’s recognised that the men in the images are wearing face masks, officers are appealing to anyone who may recognise them by their hair or clothing to get in touch.”

Anyone who has information can call the police on 101 and quote reference 12210103291.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Two men flee after crashing car on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove

Police were called late last night when a car crashed into a lamppost on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate and the driver and a passenger fled.

A resident woken by the commotion sent these images to the Stray Ferret and described hearing the driver and another man in the vehicle beg passers-by not to call the police before running off.

The driver had tried to reverse the car out of the hedge and grass verge after it hit the lamppost and spun out of control but were unable to do so.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, said he was in bed when he heard a loud bang followed by shouting. He added:

“I got up to have a look. A large crowd had gathered and I could hear voices saying ‘don’t call the police’. People were saying ‘why don’t you want us to call the police?’

“The two men then ran down the back roads and one deliberately smashed his phone on the floor. They both legged it.”

The resident said the police arrived 20 minutes later and removed the black VW Golf at about 12.30am this morning.

The lamppost was repaired by the morning.

The resident said Mayfield Grove was notorious for anti-social behaviour and cars with modified exhausts often drove along the road at excessive speeds.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Officers attended reports of a damage-only collision just after 11pm. The driver had left the vehicle, which was recovered by police and enquiries are ongoing.”

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Girl, 11, sexually assaulted walking home from school on busy Harrogate street

Police are appealing for witnesses after an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on Harrogate’s King’s Road on Tuesday.

The victim, an 11-year-old girl, was making her way home from school at about 3.15pm.

As she approached the junction with Chatsworth Grove, a man approached from behind and placed one hand on her hip and another hand on her waist and made a sexually inappropriate comment to her.

The girl ran away and arrived home upset and shaken.

It occurred just a day after a woman died suddenly in a similar location on King’s Road.

North Yorkshire Police described the girl’s attacker as white, in his 40s, around 5ft 8 with dark, greying hair that was short on one side but longer on the other.

He also has a distinctive mole above his right eyebrow.

He was wearing a red jumper, khaki coloured trousers and black Nike trainers with white laces. The girl said he had a rough Yorkshire accent.

‘Disturbing but rare incident’

Speaking about the incident, Sergeant Alex Sellars, from the Harrogate Neighbourhood Policing Team said;

“This is a disturbing incident which has understandably left the victim very shaken and upset.

“She has been incredibly brave when speaking to police and has been able to give us a detailed description of the man who approached her. Officers will be conducting further enquiries in the area, but we would appreciate the public’s assistance in helping us to identifying this man.

“With the incident taking place at the end of the school day, the area would have been busy with parents and children making their way home. If you were passing on the school run, please can you take a moment to recall your journey, or check your car dash-cams – did you see a man in the area who fits the description? If so, please do get in touch with us.”

Sergeant Sellars added incidents like this were “rare in North Yorkshire”, adding:

“Please be assured that we take reports of this nature very seriously and our officers are committed to ensuring public safety.”

Police said in a statement they were keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Kings Road and Chatsworth Grove at 3.15pm who may have witnessed the incident, or anyone who recognises the description of the man.

Anyone with information can dial 101, select option 2 and speak to the force control room quoting reference 12210125274.

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