Harrogate Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 28 verdicts at Harrogate Magistrates' Court (Harrogate). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Alexander Lockwood

Failing to stop after a road accident and using vehicle with exposed tyre cord

January 22, 2026

Sentence: Seven points added to licence and £763 costs

On November 6, 2025, Alexander Lockwood, 24, of High Street in Hampsthwaite, crashed his car into a tree on West Park in Harrogate due to exposed tyre cord despite advisory notices from a recent MOT to change the tyres. He was driving his girlfriend and friends after picking them up from Ripon to get food. Lockwood panicked, checked on the passengers, and fled the scene. He was located the next day, admitted driving, and stated he was not drinking and was in shock. No evidence of poor driving; road conditions were slippery.

Admitted both charges. Of previous good character with clean licence prior to offence. Struggling with mental health and seeking support.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Christopher Larder

Being in charge of a motor vehicle when over the legal alcohol limit

January 22, 2026

Sentence: 10 penalty points and £652 costs

On December 27, 2025, at around 10.20pm, Christopher Larder was found in the driver's seat of his van parked in a lay-by off A6108 Palace Road near Ripon Walled Garden. The ignition was on, front lights were illuminated, and the radio was playing. Police detected alcohol on him, arrested him, and he recorded 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms. He intended to sleep in the van due to distress from personal issues, including an acrimonious divorce and an upsetting photo.

Admitted offence. Defence highlighted personal hardships including divorce. Magistrates considered undue hardship from a driving ban.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Daniel Kimberley

Drink-driving

January 22, 2026

Sentence: 18 months driving ban, £692 fine

On December 27, 2025, Daniel Kimberley, 25, of Skelldale View, Ripon, drove after consuming four pints of lager, leading to a two-car collision on the B6265 near Lynden Close in Ripon. He was found to be three times over the legal drink-drive limit with 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath (legal limit 35 micrograms). Kimberley admitted to driving to buy cigarette papers and taking the long route home after sleeping and eating post-drinking. There were no passengers and no suggestion the road was busy.

Pleaded guilty. No previous convictions. Remorseful and has not drunk alcohol since the incident. Ban reducible by 18 weeks upon completion of drink-drive awareness course. Total court costs £1,054 including £247 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Christopher Mitchinson

Being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol above the limit

December 23, 2025

Sentence: 10 months driving ban, 12-month community order with up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 134 hours unpaid work, £199 court costs

On December 9, 2025, at around 5am, Christopher Mitchinson, 43, of Arkle Crescent in Darlington, called police on himself after becoming drunk and fearing he would drive. He was in the driver's seat of his car in the Aldi car park on Stonebridgegate in Ripon, with keys in the ignition. He smelled of alcohol, was slurring words, and crying. Roadside breath test positive; at Harrogate Police Station, reading of 127 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath (limit 35). He had been to Halifax for a job but couldn't contact employer, bought gin, drank in car to keep warm. Admitted offence, struggles with mental health, anxiety, depression, possible PTSD from childhood trauma. One prior conviction for drink-driving. Has not drunk since offence.

Pleaded guilty. Chair of the bench noted high alcohol reading and prior drink-driving conviction. Described as a cry for help related to mental health struggles.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Dale Lawson

Drug-driving

December 23, 2025

Sentence: 12 months driving ban and £407 costs

On October 11, 2025, at around 9pm, Dale Lawson, 36, of Manor Road in Killinghall, was driving a Ford Focus on the A61 towards Ripon while under the influence of drugs. Police received information about his condition and stopped him after he attempted a U-turn upon noticing them. Officers smelled cannabis, and a roadside test was positive for cannabis and cocaine. A blood sample showed 200 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre, four times the legal limit of 50 micrograms.

Pleaded guilty to drug-driving. Remorseful; had taken cocaine the night before and felt fine when driving. 12 prior offences. Magistrates noted drugs stay in system for a long time.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Shamraiz Aurangzeb

Theft

December 19, 2025

Sentence: 18-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity days and 6-month drug rehabilitation order, £80 fine, £240.10 compensation

Shamraiz Aurangzeb, 35, of Woodfield Square in Harrogate, committed thefts between July and October 2025 from Co-op stores on Skipton Road and Ripon Road, and Sainsbury’s on King’s Road, stealing items including meat, alcohol, and muffins valued at £146.20. He also stole a parcel from a property on Church Avenue on August 31, 2025.

Pleaded guilty to multiple thefts. Poor compliance with previous community orders noted. Theft to fund drug habit.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Dawid Kruszakin

Drink-driving

December 11, 2025

Sentence: 40 months driving ban, £614 fine

On November 18, 2025, Dawid Kruszakin, 34, of Manning Road, Preston, crashed his Mercedes Benz into Oakdale Bridge on Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate at around 7pm while his partner and her two children were in the car. He hit the wall of the bridge, leaving the front end of the car hanging over it. Police attended, and he recorded 52mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath on a roadside breathalyser test. He had intended to go to Leeds Christmas Market but got the dates wrong and had a drink while eating out to not disappoint the children. The crash was described as a misjudgement on a notorious road.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without due care and attention. Previous conviction for drink-driving in January 2021 resulting in 12-month ban. Also ordered to pay £246 victims' surcharge and £85 court costs.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Lee Windsor

Theft

November 27, 2025

Sentence: £140 fine

Lee Windsor, 46, of Wedderburn Avenue, Harrogate, stole a pair of EA7 sliders worth £24.99 from TK Maxx and gift items worth £58.98 from TJ Jones in Harrogate town centre on November 13, 2025. He was also caught with wire cutters, leading to a charge of going equipped for theft.

Admitted two counts of theft and one count of going equipped for theft. Described the thefts as a drunken mistake. Represented himself in court.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Patricia Smedley

Drink driving

November 27, 2025

Sentence: 22 months driving disqualification, £120 fine

Patricia Smedley, 60, of Allinson Court, Ripon, nearly collided with an ambulance while driving on the A1608 near North Stainley on the evening of November 7, 2025. After being pulled over, she admitted to police that she had been drinking and recorded 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mg.

Admitted charge of drink driving. Of previous good character and mortified to be before the court. Near miss with ambulance caused no damage.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Charlie Pritchard

Drink driving

November 27, 2025

Sentence: 16 months driving disqualification, £120 fine

Charlie Pritchard, 26, of Hambleton Avenue, Thirsk, was caught by police swerving between white lines on Ripon bypass (A61) on November 9, 2025. Officers pulled him over on Hutton Lane where he tested positive for alcohol after a breathalyser test, recording 58mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mg. He had consumed a drink after a remembrance event in Ripon where he had been working that day.

Admitted charge of drink driving. Recorded 58mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. Will lose job as chef due to lack of transport.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Kieran Waters

Sexual activity with a girl aged 13

November 7, 2025

Sentence: 24-month community order including 35 rehabilitation activity days, £400 fine, £114 victims' surcharge, £85 court costs, and five-year sexual harm prevention order

Kieran Waters, 25, of Kings Meadow Close in Wetherby, met a group of girls after a night out and later encountered them on a local bus route. He was captured on CCTV kissing one of the girls, aged 13, and admitted touching her bottom, thighs, and back. The offences also occurred down an alleyway. He was told the girls were 18.

Admitted two counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13. Diagnosed autistic and struggles with social interactions. Defence opposed sexual harm prevention order based on diagnosis.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Mario Portinha

Drug-driving

September 11, 2025

Sentence: 3 years driving ban and £250 fine

Mario Portinha was driving a Volkswagen Golf under the influence of cannabis when pulled over by police at Wetherby Services at 11.40pm on June 25, 2025. The officer detected the smell of cannabis upon opening the driver's door. Portinha admitted smoking a cannabis joint before driving to the services where he worked and tested positive in a roadside drug test, leading to his arrest.

Pleaded guilty to drug-driving. Had a prior similar offence and lost his job as a result.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Charles Quinn

Theft

September 11, 2025

Sentence: 12-month conditional discharge and £57.20 compensation

Charles Quinn stole items including peanuts, drinks, and four tubs of ice cream from Tesco Express in Harrogate between August 16 and August 22, 2025, with the total value amounting to £57.20. He was identified on CCTV, arrested, and made a full admission to police.

Admitted four thefts. Was homeless at the time, on Universal Credit, and stole food due to missing appointments and financial hardship.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Nathan Bailey

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

September 11, 2025

Sentence: 18-month community order, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 80-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement, £120 fine, £250 compensation, £114 surcharge, £85 costs

On Christmas Day, Nathan Bailey assaulted a male acquaintance during a social gathering involving alcohol consumption. The incident escalated from an argument, with Bailey kicking the victim, who sustained a dislocated finger, bruising, and a cut to the head. The victim reported the assault to the police and sought hospital treatment the next day.

Pleaded guilty to the charge. Had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and showed remorse, with no further offences since the incident.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Nathan Varley

Theft

September 11, 2025

Sentence: £120 fine and £189.25 compensation

Nathan Varley committed nine separate thefts from Tesco Express on Cambridge Road in Harrogate between August 16 and August 22, 2025, stealing food and alcohol valued at £189.25. The offences showed some planning, with four occurring on August 16 alone.

Admitted nine thefts. Had not been before the courts in over 10 years and cited deteriorating mental health as a factor.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Winifred Stokes

Theft

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, plus £114 victim surcharge and £85 in costs

On June 3, 2024, Winifred Stokes and her co-accused entered Cotswold Outdoor on West Park in Harrogate, where Stokes was pushing a dog pram. The co-accused placed items into the pram, and they were challenged by staff but left the store and drove away. A member of the public provided the car's registration to the police, leading to Stokes' identification and arrest. She admitted to her involvement, stating she did not take items herself but facilitated the theft by pushing the pram. The stolen items, valued at less than £1,000, were not recovered.

Pleaded guilty to theft; involved with a co-accused who was the main instigator; has prior convictions for similar offences; admitted to not stopping the theft and expressed remorse; relationship with co-accused has ended.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Liam Bacon

Wounding or Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm Without Intent

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 12-month community order including 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work, plus £1,500 compensation

On October 23, 2023, Liam Bacon shouted at the victim near Hornbeam Park in Harrogate and punched him repeatedly, causing bruising, a bloody nose, a black eye, and injuries requiring emergency dental treatment costing £300. The victim reported being struck up to eight times, lasting five to seven seconds, and briefly losing consciousness. The assault stemmed from Bacon's reaction to alleged videos circulating about him, and he believed another person was involved, though that individual was not charged.

Pleaded guilty to the offence. Was 16 at the time of the incident and expressed remorse. No prior convictions and has not offended since. The court considered his youth and social anxiety.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Kurt Day

Theft by an employee

August 29, 2025

Sentence: 32 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation activity days, curfew from 8pm to 7am for three months, and compensation of £4,285.57

Kurt Day, a team leader at Well Pharmacy on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate, stole 60 boxes of Dihydrocodeine and 40 boxes of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, with a total value of £4,285.57, periodically between August 2024 and February 2025. He was caught on CCTV, and the offences were driven by his addiction to Dihydrocodeine for back and knee pain, as well as personal issues including bullying related to his weight and sexuality.

Pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, no previous convictions, motivated by addiction to Dihydrocodeine due to back and knee pain, and issues related to weight and sexuality; lost his job as a result.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Hari Barnes

Breach of Suspended Sentence

August 29, 2025

Sentence: 30 weeks imprisonment

Hari Barnes breached a suspended sentence order that was imposed on June 27, 2025, for offences committed on December 3, 2024, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. The breaches involved failing to comply with a curfew from 7pm to 7am and not attending required probation appointments, demonstrating a negative attitude towards the service.

Breached suspended sentence by violating curfew between June 30 and July 14, 2025, and failing to engage with probation services. Original sentence was for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. Defence highlighted a difficult upbringing, learning difficulties, exposure to violence, and exploitation by gangs.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Timmy James

Dangerous driving

August 28, 2025

Sentence: 1 year and 2 months imprisonment, disqualified from driving for 31 months, and a £187 surcharge

On June 7, 2025, Timmy James was driving a BMW at excessive speeds, reaching 90mph in a 30mph zone on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate. He drove the wrong way around the Empress roundabout, forcing other drivers to take evasive action, went through three red lights, including one at Woodlands Crossroads, and intentionally rammed a police car during a pursuit, causing over £5,000 in damage. The incident began when he failed to stop for a police patrol and escalated into a high-speed chase through residential areas, endangering public safety.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on August 7. Handed a driving ban until sentencing.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Tamsin Robertshaw

Assaulting an emergency worker and drink-driving

August 14, 2025

Sentence: 38 months driving ban (reducible by 38 weeks if course completed), £140 fine, £56 surcharge, £85 costs

On July 28, 2025, Robertshaw drove after consuming two large glasses of wine, providing a breath reading of 67 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. When police approached, she resisted arrest by grabbing, squeezing, and pushing a police officer's arm, following concerns raised by a member of the public about her driving.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving and assaulting an emergency worker. Suffered from multiple sclerosis and a recent medical episode; grabbed, squeezed, and pushed a police officer's arm during arrest.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Jamie Garrett

Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour

August 14, 2025

Sentence: £80 fine, £32 surcharge, £85 costs (total £197)

On July 28, 2025, Garrett engaged in an altercation outside a hostel in Harrogate, using a homophobic slur and obscene language, shouting aggressively, swinging his arms, and resisting police who had to take him to the ground.

Pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. Was heavily intoxicated and involved in an altercation; mentioned dealing with personal issues and attending meetings for alcohol.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Calum Robinson

Drink-driving

August 14, 2025

Sentence: 38 months driving ban (reducible by 38 weeks if course completed), £438 fine, £175 surcharge, £85 costs

On July 27, 2025, Robinson drove at speed, swayed over lanes on Harrogate Road, and provided a breath reading of 45 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath after being stopped by police while en route to collect his girlfriend.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Had a prior conviction in 2022; admitted driving despite advice against it due to intoxication.

Sources: thestrayferret.co.uk

Stefan Soloman

Failing to provide driver details

July 1, 2025

Sentence: Fined £709 and disqualified from driving for six months

In September 2024, Stefan Soloman drove a white Ford Transit Van past horse riders on a small country lane in North Yorkshire at high speed, heading towards an oncoming car without slowing down. This incident was reported via Operation Snap, leading to police contact. He failed to provide his details and was also found guilty of additional driving offences.

Pleaded guilty to failing to provide driver details. Also prosecuted for driving without insurance and not wearing a seatbelt.

Sources: examinerlive.co.uk

Michael Watt

Poaching

August 29, 2024

Sentence: Fined £461, costs of £320, surcharge of £184, and a criminal behaviour order

Michael Watt was found with a live rabbit covered in blood and trapped in a net in his van, along with a Harris hawk, ferrets, hunting traps, and falconry equipment. He had been reported for poaching on the Bolton Abbey estate and other areas in Craven. Police stopped and searched his vehicle in Threshfield near Grassington in October 2023. He was charged with two counts of poaching (one at Embsay Reservoir and one at Broad Park, Barden), causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and obstructing the police.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of poaching, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and obstructing the police. A deprivation order was made for all seized items.

Sources: thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

Azim Parvez

Persistently using a public communication network causing annoyance and inconvenience

July 31, 2024

Sentence: 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order, 6 months alcohol treatment, up to 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement, £85 costs, and £114 victim surcharge

Azim Parvez made nearly 300 nuisance calls to North Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service between June 2024 and January 2025, including 99 calls on the 999 emergency line in one period, which took up significant staff time. He also targeted vulnerable people by begging for money in certain areas of Skipton, leading to restrictions on his behaviour.

Admitted to the offence. Inspector Paul Crabtree commented that Parvez persistently targeted the control room, taking resources from genuine emergencies, and was aggressive towards emergency services staff.

Sources: cravenherald.co.uk

Michael Haggerty

Theft

July 31, 2024

Sentence: Community order with up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and £528 compensation

Michael Haggerty stole diesel from vehicles parked in a lorry park in Hellifield between May 1 and May 18, 2024. He was caught on CCTV footage syphoning fuel, and his vehicle was seen nearby. £100 of the stolen fuel was recovered. He initially declined to comment during police interviews but later admitted to taking fuel on four occasions, citing his lifestyle and health as reasons.

Admitted to the offences. Has 61 previous convictions. Mitigating factors included his itinerant lifestyle and health issues due to damp in his caravan.

Sources: thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

Emma Smith

Dog dangerously out of control

June 19, 2024

Sentence: Fined £120, ordered to pay £150 compensation, costs of £85, surcharge of £48, and £1,000 towards the costs of the dogs

Emma Smith, 50, of The Bungalows, Glusburn, was the owner of a Hungarian Vizsla named Primrose that bit a man on the leg on November 25, 2024, leaving tooth marks but not breaking the skin. Two of her dogs were seized by police, and although one dog was involved in the incident, the other was not and was on a lead at the time.

Admitted the offence. Measures were put in place to prevent future incidents, and no order was made for the dog to be destroyed.

Sources: cravenherald.co.uk

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