Harrogate gran in tears after being wrongly accused of stealing in Sainsbury’sA Harrogate grandma was left in tears after a Sainsbury’s shop worker accused her of stealing an item she had already paid for.
Pam Forster has shopped at Sainsbury’s on Wetherby Road in Harrogate for more than 20 years but said she won’t be going back after her experience on February 27.
Ms Forster was leaving the store when the security barriers started beeping and a shop worker asked to see her receipt. But because she had used the self-checkout machines and chosen not to get a receipt, she didn’t have one — she had bought a pair of wellies and some food and didn’t expect to have to return any items.
Because Ms Forster didn’t have a receipt, the member of staff asked her to accompany her to the till so they could print a receipt. The shop worker then looked through Ms Forster’s bags, matching items with items listed on the receipt.
During this, she said a packet of salmon had not been paid for but Ms Forster insisted it had. The shop worker left Ms Forster to speak to a colleague and later returned to say “you really should get a receipt next time, sweetheart” and walked away.
Ms Forster’s receipt
The Harrogate office manager was left “mortified and very upset”, adding she didn’t know if she was free to leave at this stage because she was left standing near a till.
‘Humiliating experience’
Ms Forster eventually left and “cried the whole way home”. She knew she hadn’t stolen anything and, after checking, found the salmon was indeed listed on the receipt.
Ms Forster said:
“She just walked away and left me, I was mortified. All she needed to say was ‘sorry love, you were right I just missed it on the receipt’ but instead she just left me standing there. It really wasn’t a good experience.
“I imagine she was embarrassed that she’d missed it on the receipt but if she’d just apologised I’d have drawn a line under it. Instead I was left feeling humiliated.”
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Ms Forster said she previously visited the shop every week and that “98% of her wardrobe is from Sainsbury’s” because it’s so easy to get it all from one place.
She called the customer care line the same day and managed to speak to a phone operator, who said someone would be in touch. Her daughter also tried to contact the retailer but no one responded.
Since the Stray Ferret contacted Sainsbury’s about the incident, the supermarket has been in touch with Ms Forster to offer a £15 gift card as a gesture of goodwill. Ms Forster said she rejected it because she won’t be going back.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:
“We are in touch with Ms Forster to apologise and reassure her that we’re investigating this experience.”
Ripon beauty queen qualifies for UK finalRipon beauty queen Victoria Hind has been crowned Miss North Yorkshire Galaxy 2022 to qualify for the grand final of Miss Galaxy UK in November.
Ms Hind won Miss Harrogate Galaxy last year to reach the UK final and although she didn’t place, she said the experience has made her more determined for this year.
The winner of Miss Galaxy UK will travel to the USA with contestants from all over the world to compete in the Miss Galaxy International final.
Ms Hind said she always wanted to compete in pageants but felt too anxious prior to lockdown. Stepping out on the stage has given her a huge boost in confidence, she added.
Her experiences with anxiety and dyslexia has encouraged her to start discussing the issues on social media.
She hopes to build her platform and talk openly about the challenges she’s faced ahead of the final in November:
“I want to show young children that dyslexia doesn’t have to hold you back, you still can do anything you want to do. If I can show one kid that then it’s worth it.”
Photograph: Brian Hayes Photography
It isn’t always crowns and ballgowns for Miss Hind: during the day she works at Sainsbury’s in Ripon.
The 23-year-old will also continue with her charity duties as Miss North Yorkshire by working with Ripon Food Bank, Saint Michael’s Hospice and Dogs for Good.
Last year, she walked in a Saint Michael’s Hospice fashion show, which raised over £7,000. Her Halloween party for Dogs for Good, which trains dogs to live as assistance dogs in people’s homes, raised £350.
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The Miss Galaxy UK final at the Park Hall Hotel in Lancashire consists of four rounds; an interview round, an evening wear round, a fashion wear round and a swimwear round.
The recent final in November 2021 saw Ms Hind compete against 58 other girls in the 18-27 age category.
Man jailed for biting Harrogate police officer and spitting at anotherA prolific offender who bit a Harrogate police officer and spat at another during the covid pandemic has been jailed for over a year.
Police were called to Sainsbury’s supermarket on Wetherby Road after Mark Murtagh, 34, attacked a security guard, York Crown Court heard.
The security man had been following Murtagh around the aisles, sensing he was up to no good, said prosecutor Muneeb Akram.
Murtagh suddenly turned round, asked the guard why he was following him and aimed a volley of vile racial abuse at him.
The security officer brought out his phone and tried to call police, but Murtagh knocked it out of his hand, sending it flying across a shopping aisle.
Coughed on police officer
A staff manager called police who quickly arrived to arrest Murtagh, who had no intention of going quietly.
As he tried to resist arrest, he shouted abuse at the two officers, telling them to “take these cuffs off” and “hand over your jacket”. Mr Akram said:
“(Murtagh) said he had covid and coughed directly at (the named female officer), causing spit to land on her.
“He’s restrained to the floor by officers (but) tries to resist and attempts to get back up with his legs by swinging them around.”
As Murtagh attempted to “push himself away” along the floor using his arms, he tried to bite the male traffic constable’s leg.
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The named officer managed to push Murtagh’s face away but as he did so, he was bitten on the wrist, causing puncture wounds which drew blood.
The officer finally brought Murtagh under control by spraying CS gas in his face and he was taken into custody.
The officer was said to have suffered psychological harm following the incident at about 5pm on September 10 last year.
Murtagh, of Findon Terrace, Bradford, was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, one count of resisting arrest and racially aggravated assault on the security guard.
He admitted the offences on the day his trial was due to be held and appeared for sentence via video link on Wednesday.
26 previous convictions
Mr Akram said Murtagh had 26 previous convictions for 42 offences including violence, resisting police officers, drink-fuelled disorderly behaviour, drugs matters, theft and handling stolen goods.
Vincent Blake-Barnard, for Murtagh, said the father-of-one’s violent behaviour in the supermarket was “born of frustration” due to problems he had at the time.
But judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, branded his behaviour “disgraceful”.
He slammed Murtagh for violently resisting two officers “doing a tough job, serving the public”.
Jailing Murtagh for 14 months, the judge told him:
“This was a lengthy and distressing arrest. Police officers are entitled to perform their duties without being assaulted.”
Murtagh will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on parole.
Sainsbury’s sets opening date for Harrogate town centre storeSainsbury’s has confirmed that its new store in Harrogate town centre will finally open next month.
The Sainsbury’s Local on Cambridge Street will welcome customers on January 13. The supermarket chain had hoped to open in the summer but only received planning permission in July.
The store will create about 25 jobs and some roles are still available.
Surplus food from the store will go to Harrogate District Foodbank, which has partnered with Sainsbury’s to help those who need it most.
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New store manager Simon Wilton said:
“I’m delighted to confirm the opening date for our new store and we’re really looking forward to welcoming customers from next month. My colleagues and I are working hard to get everything ready for opening.
“It’s been a fantastic team effort so far and we can’t wait to bring our passion for food and brilliant customer service to Cambridge Street.”
The development will bring the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street back into use after four years.
The developer plans to split the building into three separate units. Sainsbury’s occupies the largest on the left side.
Skipton Building Society is also planning to move in but it is unclear at this stage which business will take on the third unit.
ATM outage frustrates Knaresborough stallholdersStallholders have vented their frustration over an ATM outage in Knaresborough’s town centre where there is no longer a bank.
Both the cash machines at the Tesco Express and the Sainsbury’s Local on the High Street are out of service today. They have reportedly been out for the past five days.
Anyone in need of cash either have to queue up at the busy Post Office in the town or head out for a 40 minute round walk to the ATM at the Co-op petrol station on Manse Lane.
Halifax closed its Knaresborough branch in March 2021. Halifax blamed changing customer habits for the closure, which left the town’s 15,000 residents without a bank.
The lack of cash availability has been felt particularly keenly today at the Knaresborough market. The market is held every Wednesday from 7.30am to 3pm in the market square.
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Ted Wray, who has sold jewellery and old cash at his stall for the last three years, told the Stray Ferret:
“I think it has put people off buying things at the market today. Some of my potential customers ask if I take cards but it’s not possible when I am selling items for a couple of pounds.
“It has been very difficult. All of us in the market who do not use card machines have felt this as an issue.”
Paul Greene, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall under the name Paul Veg Man, also added:
“The ATMs have been out since Saturday. Customers have also been complaining about it, the machines don’t have any cash in them.
“It has been putting a lot of people off. We have no banks and only one post office where everyone has been sent.”
Jared Clark, who runs a bakery stall on the market with a card machine, said:
“We have had a few customers who have said they can’t get any cash, so it is not ideal. The only place is the Post Office where people often have to queue.
“Footfall is down at the moment so it is not great. Knaresborough deserves better, we need more cash points or a bank.”
The Stray Ferret asked both Tesco and Sainsbury’s why their ATMs are currently out of use. We had no response by the time of publication.
Update: A Tesco Bank spokesperson said:
“We are aware of an issue affecting the ATM at Tesco Knaresborough High Street that has caused the machine to be temporarily out of service. We are working hard to fix this and expect to have the ATM available for use again later this week. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused our customers.”
Harrogate town centre Sainsbury’s to open in next two monthsSainsbury’s is planning to open its new Harrogate’s town centre store in the next couple of months.
The supermarket chain had hoped for a late summer opening but only managed to get permission from Harrogate Borough Council in late July.
When the new Sainsbury’s Local shop opens it will create 25 new jobs and also bring the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street back into use after four years.
While there’s not been too much movement at the store in recent weeks, the internal fit out is due to start before the end of November.
The developer plans to split the building into three seperate units. Sainsbury’s would occupy the largest on the left side.
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Skipton Building Society is also planning to move in but it is unclear at this stage which business will take on the third unit.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said:
“We’ll soon be moving to the next stage in the fitout of our new convenience store for Harrogate and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape as it really starts to look like a Sainsbury’s Local.
“It won’t be long now until residents, workers and shoppers in the town centre will be able to enjoy great value, high quality products as well as the improved convenience and choice that a new Sainsbury’s store will bring.”
Mr Dunne added that his team is also in the process of finding a charity to donate excess food to.
Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.
New Sainsbury’s in Harrogate town centre gets green lightA plan to open a new Sainsbury’s store in Harrogate town centre has been approved.
The Sainsbury’s Local store is set to open in the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street, which has been empty since 2017.
The disused unit is set to be divided into three retail spaces, which will enable Sainsbury’s to set up in the largest outlet.
The store is also expected to bring 25 new jobs to the area.
Harrogate Borough Council has now given the go-ahead for the proposal.
Skipton Building Society has also submitted plans to lease the central unit and refurbish it to include open plan public space, office spaces, toilets and staff space.
Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.
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The new store will be just a minute’s walk from the Tesco Express on Cambridge Road.
Patrick Dunne, property director at the supermarket chain, said in March it hoped to open by late summer.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:
“Naturally we are very pleased with Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to approve our planning application.
Our new Local will represent an opportunity bring new jobs and to offer high quality products at greater convenience for residents and visitors in Harrogate town centre.”
Bid to open Lidl in Ripon wins support of city council
Plans for a Lidl supermarket in Ripon have won the support of the city council.
Council leader Andrew Williams described a planning application by the German supermarket chain as a ‘win, win, win, situation’.
He said:
“It will bring 40 new jobs, increase choice for Ripon’s residents and also serve our growing population, with the new homes that we have coming on stream.”
Cllr Williams was speaking at last week’s full city council meeting at which he and fellow members supported Lidl’s planning application.
Lidl will join M&S Food at St Michael’s Retail Park if its plans are approved.
Harrogate Borough Council will decide whether to accept Lidl’s application to open a 1,100 square metre store at the £10 million St Michael’s Retail Park.
But the backing of Ripon City Council suggests there is support locally for the plan.
The Rotary Way site, off the bypass, is already home to a Marks & Spencer Food outlet, which opened last July.
Ripon, with a population of 17,000-plus and growing, is well-served by supermarkets, with Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also trading in the city.
Lidl put forward its Ripon proposal following an online consultation.
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Following the consultation, a spokesperson from Lidl GB said:
“Many people have welcomed the proposed Lidl store, which would bring competition, increasing choice and providing a boost to the local economy through job creation.
“Many also mentioned that a store on this site would reduce the need to travel out of the city to shop and therefore keep expenditure in Ripon.”
The supermarket has also submitted an application to open its first Harrogate store on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.
Sainsbury’s to open store in Harrogate town centreSainsbury’s is planning to open a new store in the centre of Harrogate by the end of the summer.
The Sainsbury’s Local store will open in the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street, which has been empty for more than two years.
Sainsbury’s expects to employ about 25 people in a mixture of full-time and part-time roles.
Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.
The new store will be just a minute’s walk from the Tesco Express on Cambridge Road.
The investment comes at a difficult time for the town centre, with many businesses closed or struggling to survive as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
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It comes at a time when Sainsbury’s is to cut 500 head office jobs. Another 650 jobs at the company are also said to be at risk.
An artist’s impression of the new Sainsbury’s Local in Harrogate.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s property director, said:
“We’re excited to open our doors to a new convenience store in Harrogate by late summer this year.
“Our investment in Harrogate will give the local community a new and modern store and support jobs during the fit out and beyond.
“This Local will offer everyday essentials and give residents, workers and tourists the chance to get what they need as they go about their busy daily lives.”
Marks & Spencer likely to open Ripon store in mid JulyMarks & Spencer is likely to open its M&S Food store in Ripon in mid July, The Stray Ferret understands.
The M&S store, on Rotary Way, was originally due to open on April 29 but that was put on hold because of coronavirus.
It is part of the £10 million Saint Michael’s Retail Park development. A spokesperson for M&S said:
“We’re working hard to finish our Ripon store and as soon as we have more information on the opening we will update the community.”
The new store, located close to the Ripon bypass, was first granted planning permission by Harrogate Borough Council in 2017. It will provide up to 80 new jobs, including people who have been recruited locally.
Ripon is currently served by four supermarkets – Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
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German budget supermarket Lidl, which already has a store in Chain Lane, Knaresborough, has announced that it plans to open up to 89 new stores in Yorkshire and has Harrogate and Ripon on its list, saying:
The company, which is hoping to double the number of stores it has in the UK added, that it was looking for ‘prominent sites in town, district, edge of centre or out of town locations, ideally with main road frontage with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.’
“We want to double our portfolio. To continue our phenomenal growth we require further sites across the country.”
The proposed locations for Lidl stores in Ripon and Harrogate is not as yet known.