A man has admitted dangerous driving in Harrogate after leading police on a 140mph pursuit.

Jason Ryder, 45, of Wellgarth, Bishop Auckland, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.

Ryder was charged with dangerous driving on York Place in Harrogate, on Wetherby Road, on the A658 John Metcalf Way, on the A1(M) and on the A6055 on Monday (March 20).

He was also charged with driving his Audi A3 while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Ryder, who was eventually halted by a police stinger, pleaded guilty to all the offences.

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He appeared in court just a day after being disqualified from driving for 12 months for drug driving at junction 47 of the A1(M) near Knaresborough.

He was pursued by North Yorkshire Police immediately after leaving Harrogate Magistrates Court on March 20.

Officers described him as “weaving dangerously in and out of traffic” while reaching speeds of 140mph.

Paul Cording, a roads policing sergeant for the force, said he had shown “a complete disregard for road safety and the judicial system”.

Ryder will appear before York Crown Court to be sentenced on April 11.

A man has appeared in court on two counts of groping men at Harrogate train station.

Jason Darren Graham Wilson, 51, was charged with inappropriately touching a man at the station on April 29 and May 24 last year.

He is also accused of the same crime, which is contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, at York train station on June 20 last year.

Mr Wilson, of Hope Street, York, denies all charges and following his appearance at York Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday will stand trial on May 17.

He was remanded on bail on condition that he does not enter Harrogate or York train stations unless it is within 30 minutes of a train he intends to use, and he must have a valid travel ticket.

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Police today confirmed that a teenager has died following an incident in Harrogate in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The victim, who was 17, died in hospital after being found with “significant injuries” when police attended a property in Claro Road at about 12.15am.

North Yorkshire Police said today the person had died but did not name him.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared before York Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with attempted murder.

The boy, who was remanded into youth custody, is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on March 14.

But in an update today, Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, head of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said the 18-year-old had now died: He said:

“North Yorkshire Police are, sadly, able to confirm that the teenage boy who was seriously injured in an incident at Claro Road, Harrogate, in the early hours of Sunday 19 February, died in hospital on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 February 2023.

“I can now confirm that the enquiry has been declared a murder investigation. North Yorkshire Police will not, at this stage, be taking steps to name the victim, however, our thoughts are very much with his family and friends.

“A large enquiry team has been formed to progress the investigation, this includes specialist officers who will offer support to the victim’s family.”

Social media plea

Det Supt Fox added:

“I am aware that that significant information is being shared on various social media platforms, I would ask members of the public to respect the privacy of affected family members and refrain from speculating on the personal information of the victim at this difficult time.

“A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with attempted murder on Monday 20 February and appeared in court on Tuesday 21 February. He was remanded in custody to appear again on 14 March.

“This is a live enquiry and I would remind the public that any form of shared rumour or speculation may have a significant impact on future criminal justice processes.”

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A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after an incident in Harrogate’s Claro Road at the weekend.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, is due to appear at York Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning.

A man in his teens found at the scene with “significant injuries” remains in a critical condition in hospital tonight.

Police were called to the property in Claro Road at 12.15am on Sunday. Paramedics also attended and took the young man to hospital.

There was a heavy police presence around the area yesterday and North Yorkshire Police has urged people not to speculate on social media about the incident.

At the time, Detective Inspector Nichola Holden said:

“We know local residents are likely to be concerned by this incident and I hope the quick arrest of a suspect will go some way to reassure them.

“We believe this to be an isolated event with both teenagers known to each other and we are carrying out a full investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding it.”

“Several witnesses have been spoken to or interviewed by officers investigating this incident and we are confident we have spoken to everyone we need to. However, if you have any other information which you feel may be relevant, please contact police as soon as possible.”

A Harrogate police officer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a property in North Yorkshire.

Joseph McCabe, 27, had only been married six weeks when the incident occurred in 2021.

The victim, who was not in a relationship with McCabe, “froze in fear” after the officer “stroked” her on the arm arm and then badgered her for sex, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Blackburn said when the victim rejected McCabe’s advances, he grabbed or “yanked” her hair and dragged her off a bed, before demanding she had sex with him.

He said that McCabe, a devout Roman Catholic who had drunk about seven pints that night, placed his hand on the woman’s inner thigh and on her back and then lifted her onto a bed, before lying next to her and staring at her. Mr Blackburn said:

“He took hold of her arm and began to stroke it.”

When the woman asked him what he was doing, McCabe made no reply.

Mr Blackburn said the woman was scared and made it clear she didn’t want to have sex.

About 30 minutes later, McCabe started shouting, “Get into…bed now”, added Mr Blackburn.

She again spurned his advances.

McCabe, who had been in his policing job since early 2020, later apologised for his behaviour, telling the woman he had “reverted back to being my teenage self” and had made an “ill-judged, romantic” advance. However, he denied his actions were sexual in nature.

The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, later reported the incident to police.

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McCabe, of Kingsley Park Road, Harrogate, was brought in for questioning and gave police a prepared statement claiming he was drunk at the time. He admitted lifting the woman and putting her down on a bed but denied his behaviour was sexual.

He said he thought that “matters were developing” between them during the incident in the early hours of the morning, and that he had “stupidly” tried to kiss the woman. Mr Blackburn added:

“He said she made it clear that was not what she wanted and he then apologised.”

McCabe, who was suspended by North Yorkshire Police pending the outcome of the trial, denied pulling the woman’s hair and demanding that she get into bed with him, and said he fell asleep after she made it clear she didn’t want sex.

He was charged with one count of sexual assault but denied the offence. At the trial, which resumed today after the prosecution opening in October last year, McCabe, wearing a smart suit, took to the stand to state his case.

‘Wholeheartedly’ denied allegation

He said he “wholeheartedly” denied the allegation and had done nothing more than try to kiss the woman.

The victim said McCabe picked her up and placed her on a bed and that “nothing was said, which I found quite creepy”. She added:

“He laid on the bed next to me and then he took hold of my hand and (his hand) went up my arm in a stroking motion.”

She said McCabe was moving his hand towards an intimate part of her body, but no contact was made. She said:

“At first I was a bit shocked and couldn’t work out what he was doing.

“I said, ‘What do you think are you doing?’ I perceived that he was trying to have sex with me.”

She said she pointed to the Crucifix that McCabe was wearing and said:

“Aren’t you meant to be religious? What are you doing?”

“I turned away from him at that point because I didn’t want him to think I was interested in him.”

However, she then “felt my (hair) bun get pulled and I was ragged to the floor”.

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She said she was “shouting and swearing” and telling him “don’t touch me”. She added:

“I remember shaking a lot and I didn’t know what to do.

“I just froze in fear. I was in shock.”

She said that during the “horrible” incident, McCabe had “terrified” her and at one stage she feared she might be raped.

Mr Blackburn said the victim “couldn’t get over what happened” and that McCabe had placed her on the bed as a “prelude to something else”.

McCabe’s barrister Kevin Baumber read out character testimonies from friends of McCabe, one of whom was his sports coach.

One of McCabe’s gym friends described him as a “hard-working, kind-natured individual” who took “great pride” in his work.

His sports coach and best friend said McCabe was a “fun guy but has always been serious and sensible, someone I would go to in a crisis”.

He said McCabe had always been “respectful” towards women “for as long as I’ve known (him)”.

Evidence ‘not credible’

But district judge Tan Ikram shot down McCabe’s claims that the victim had been lying or “reimagining” the events.

He said although McCabe was otherwise a “man of good character” and that there was “nothing to suggest you have done anything like this (before)”, there was “always a first time”.

Mr Ikram pointed to inconsistencies in McCabe’s own evidence, including his claim that if the victim had consented to a kiss he had no idea “where it could have ended up”. Nr Ikram added:

“That to me just did not seem credible.

“You have a woman in a bed and have no idea where it would end up? Your evidence today has not been credible.

“You can give no credible explanation as to why (the victim) would make up such a serious allegation. She was telling the truth about what happened that night, I’m sure of that.

“On the other hand, (you) were cautious in your answers (having had) plenty of time to think about it. You have elaborated to try to make innocent sense of what you did.

“I’m sure that your intentions throughout were sexual.”

The judge said he believed the victim’s account that there were “several incidents that night beyond the original attempt to kiss her”.

He told McCabe:

“She never consented and you knew she didn’t and you certainly knew in relation to the encounters where you dragged her by the hair and demanded that she get into your bed, and for those reasons I find you guilty of the offence.”

McCabe sobbed uncontrollably as the judge delivered his verdict.

Sentence was adjourned to March 31.

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A 23-year-old Harrogate man has appeared in court charged with wounding a man on Bower Street on Friday night.

William Boam, who lives on Bower Street, faced three charges at York Magistrates Court.

He was accused of maliciously wounding a named victim with the intent to do him grievous bodily harmed.

Mr Boam was also charged with possessing a knife on Bower Street and assaulting another named victim on the same night on the street, causing actual bodily harm.

The cases were sent to York Crown Court, where they are due to be heard on November 14.

Mr Boam was denied bail at Monday’s hearing.

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A Ripon man has been charged with attempted murder, assaulting emergency workers and carrying a weapon in a public place.

Kyle Harpin, 33, of North Street in the city, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was charged with attempting to murder another man, who was named in court, on North Street on Sunday.

Mr Harpin was also charged with assaulting two police constables at Harrogate District Hospital on the same date.

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He also allegedly used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards another police officer at Harrogate Police Station.

Mr Harpin faced a further charge of carrying a knife in a public place on North Street in Ripon.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on November 7.

A 45-year-old man will appear before York Crown Court this week charged with arson at a pub in Knaresborough.

Stephen John Pearson, of Nutwell Court Road in Lympstone, Devon, is charged with committing arson that damaged Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.

He appeared before York Magistrates Court on August 25 for the alleged offence, when the case was referred to York Crown Court.

Mr Pearson is due to appear before the crown court on Friday.

The Grade II pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the Industrial Revolution.

Blind Jack’s on Market Place, Knaresborough.

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A Harrogate woman has received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assault.

Elaine Manaley, 55, of Dene Park, attacked the woman who was named in court on August 2 last year.

She denied the offence, which occurred at Dene Park, Bilton, but was found guilty at York Magistrates Court on Monday.

Court documents described it as an “appalling assault on a member of the public”.

Manaley was also found guilty of damaging a pair of glasses and a wrist watch worth £120 belonging to the same victim. She denied the charge.

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A warrant was issued for the arrest of Manaley when she failed to appear in court on Friday last week to answer the charges against her.

York Magistrates Court. Credit: Flickr.

She was subsequently arrested and appeared before magistrates on Monday where she admitted three instances of failing to submit to custody having been released on bail.

Manaley was sentenced to nine weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay a total of £894. This consisted of £620 to the Crown Prosecution Service and £274 compensation.