Speed camera vans not there to ‘maximise revenue’, says chief constablePolice fixed speed camera ‘targeted by vandals’ on first day of useFirst ever fixed speed camera installed in North YorkshireDrivers disqualified for clocking 150mph on A1(M) near KnaresboroughHighest speeding offences recorded on North Yorkshire roads revealedWoman sentenced for trying to avoid speeding ticket in HarrogateLeeds United footballer banned from driving after speeding in Harrogate

Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson has been banned from driving after speeding in Harrogate.

Aaronson, 23, of Victoria Avenue, was caught speeding at 37 miles per hour in a Mercedes-AMG on the A6040 Knaresborough Road near the Stray on March 12, 2023. The speed limit for the road is 30 mph.

He admitted the offence in September last year.

A hearing was held at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning, but Aaronson was not present.

Magistrates ordered the United States international to pay a £666 fine, £266 surcharge and £90 in court costs.

Aaronson already had 10 points on his licence, which was endorsed with a further three points and he was disqualified from driving for six months.

Read more:

The 23-year-old is currently on loan at German side Union Berlin from Leeds United.

He joined the club on July 9, 2023, after the Whites’ relegation from the Premier League.

Aaronson made 36 appearances for Leeds last season and scored one goal.

He joined United from Red bull Salzburg in May 2022 for a reported £25 million fee.

Senior North Yorks police officer faces criminal investigation over speeding claims

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating an allegation that a senior North Yorkshire Police officer may have provided a false or misleading account to avoid a speeding sanction.

The IOPC, which handles complaints against police forces in England and Wales, said today it had opened a criminal investigation into the matter in November after hearing about the allegation.

Today’s statement added:

“This week, we notified the officer they are under criminal investigation for the potential offences of misconduct in public office, improper exercise of police powers and intent to pervert the course of justice.

“They have also been served notice, informing them that we are investigating gross misconduct in relation to potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour for honesty and integrity; duties and responsibilities; and conduct.

“We have been advised that the officer has subsequently been suspended from duty.”

The name of the officer, or where he or she is based, has not been revealed.

IOPC director David Ford said:

“Where a serious allegation such as this is made, it is important for a thorough investigation to take place to uncover the facts.

“In light of the nature of the allegation and the seniority of the officer involved, this will be carried out by the IOPC, independently of the police.

“I would like to make clear that the launching of a criminal investigation does not necessarily mean that criminal charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.”

Mr Ford added:

“At the conclusion of the investigation, we will decide whether to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, and also decide whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

“Our investigation is at an early stage, and we will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so.”

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police issued a statement about the investigation:

“North Yorkshire Police is aware of an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further due to the ongoing investigation and as it is led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct all enquiries should be directed to them at this stage.”

Read more:

 

Leeds United footballer accused of speeding in Harrogate

Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen is to appear before court in January charged with speeding in Harrogate.

Kristensen, 26, of North Park Road in Harrogate, is alleged to have been speeding in excess of 30mph on the A6040 Knaresborough Road near the Stray in a Bentley Continental on February 19 this year.

A hearing was held at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning, but Kristensen was not present.

Magistrates adjourned the case until January 23, 2024, and ordered the 26-year-old to appear in person.

Kristensen, who is a Denmark international, is currently playing for Italian side AS Roma on loan from Leeds. 

He joined the club in July after the Whites’ relegation from the Premier League.

Kristensen made 26 appearances for Leeds last season and scored three goals.

He joined United from Red Bull Salzberg in July 2022 for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £10 million.

Read more:

 

Daughter of man, 90, killed on A61 calls for ‘horrendous’ road to be made safer

The daughter of a 90-year-old man who was killed when he was knocked down by a car is calling for better safety measures to be urgently introduced on the stretch of the A61 Ripon Road where he was hit. 

Lucjan Wilk had just got off the number 36 bus when he was struck by a Ford Fiesta travelling towards Killinghall on Monday night (November 6). He sustained multiple serious injuries and died the following evening in Leeds General Infirmary. 

Polish-born Mr Wilk lived with his daughter, Paulina, and her husband in a house near the bus-stop.

She told the Stray Ferret: 

“This road is just horrendous. People come flying down that hill – I don’t think anyone does less than 50mph, and many go a lot faster than that. 

“There’s also no lighting between Harrogate and Killinghall, and not even any on Knox Mill Lane. It’s so dangerous. 

“I don’t think they put the bus-stop in the right place at all.” 

Paulina is now calling on North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit to 30mph between Harrogate and Killinghall, to install proper lighting, and to introduce other traffic-calming measures, such as speed-indicator display signs. She said: 

“It’s a big problem, and I’ve asked the council for more lighting here before, but nobody’s listening. It’s like we don’t exist.” 

Mr Wilk, who came to England with his family in 1978, had lived with Paulina and her husband ever since his wife moved into a care home three months ago.

He had taken the bus into Harrogate every day since then to visit his wife, to whom friends say he was devoted. 

Paulina can see the spot where her father was struck from her kitchen window. She said: 

“I have to pass it every day on my way into town, too – there’s no escape.  

“My dad was a wonderful person, and unbelievably fit for 90 years old. It’s so unfair – he didn’t deserve to die like that.” 

In tragic twist of irony, Paulina used to live on Leeds Road, where she was very concerned about speeding cars “using it as a racetrack”.

She moved to her current address because she thought it would be quieter. She said: 

“I complained to the council about the speeding there, and they contacted me and sympathised, but that was the end of it. A police officer even told me that sometimes it takes a tragedy, like someone’s death, to make them do something. Well, that tragedy has happened now, so I hope something will be done.” 

Read more: