York Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

June 2026 1 case

Josh Jones

Racially aggravated threatening behaviour *

Sentence

22 weeks imprisonment

On October 5, 2025, Josh Jones, 23, from Sowerby, became aggressive at Adams Pizza in Northallerton after being refused free garlic sauce for his chips. He racially abused the pizzeria owner, assaulted a staff member, and smashed the shop window causing over £500 damage. When police arrived, he bit one officer on the leg, breaking the skin, and later grabbed another officer by the wrist and refused to let go, spitting in their face.

Pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour, assault, and criminal damage. Judge described behaviour as 'disgraceful and obnoxious'. Also ordered to pay compensation.

2 Jun 2026

May 2026 2 cases

Julian Gabriel Ashley Drumm

Assault and racial harassment *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment

Julian Drumm, 36, beat the same man twice on November 20 last year in Harrogate. On the same day, also in Harrogate, Drumm racially harassed an unnamed victim by using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. He failed to surrender to police bail on February 13 and failed to appear at Harrogate Magistrates Court on April 10. Prior to the Harrogate offences, Drumm used threatening words or behaviour towards a named man in Lancaster on November 2 last year, assaulted a different man in Lancaster that same day, and then another man just two days later. Drumm admitted all the offences during hearings in January, April and earlier this month.

Admitted eight separate offences. Five committed in Harrogate.

19 May 2026

George Robinson

Drink-driving *

Sentence

Eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months

On December 18, 2025, at around 7.45pm, George Robinson parked his van in a live lane on Harrogate’s Parliament Street outside the Turkish baths, reversed slightly, and stopped, blocking the lane for 30 minutes. Police found him asleep at the wheel with the engine running and radio playing. He recorded 134 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath at Harrogate Police Station, almost four times the legal limit. Incident linked to mental health struggles and relationship breakdown; van is a campervan used for coping.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Ordered to undergo a six-month mental health treatment programme and complete 20 rehabilitation days. Banned from driving for 36 months, backdated from January, reducible by 36 weeks upon completion of drink-drive awareness course. Magistrates noted realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

5 May 2026

April 2026 3 cases

Robert Jones

Littering *

Sentence

Fined £40 plus £16 victim surcharge and £967 costs

Dr Robert Jones, 64, was filmed by a neighbour dropping a cigarette butt on Ashville Street, York, in November 2025. He was issued a fixed penalty notice of £500 by City of York Council but claimed the footage was AI-generated and refused to pay, leading to court proceedings. He eventually accepted it was him and pleaded guilty.

Pleaded guilty to littering. Initially claimed video evidence was AI-generated and refused to pay fixed penalty notice.

29 Apr 2026

Ian James Hartley

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal *

Sentence

Banned from owning, keeping or dealing horses, as well as transporting or arranging the transportation of horses, for 12 months; ordered to pay £1,479 to the court

Ian James Hartley and Amanda June Thompson, of Red House Estate, failed to adequately address various conditions affecting a horse named Java's welfare between July 29 and August 29, 2024, at Red House Livery in Moor Monkton. Conditions included multiple limb lameness, emaciation, lice and maggot infestation, an ulcerated penile mass, and dental insufficiency. They denied the charges on December 13, 2024, but were found guilty on March 19, 2026.

Found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal; confiscation order made for all owned animals to be seized and placed into RSPCA care for rehoming.

20 Apr 2026

Amanda June Thompson

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal *

Sentence

Banned from owning, keeping or dealing horses, as well as transporting or arranging the transportation of horses, for 12 months; ordered to pay £1,479 to the court

Ian James Hartley and Amanda June Thompson, of Red House Estate, failed to adequately address various conditions affecting a horse named Java's welfare between July 29 and August 29, 2024, at Red House Livery in Moor Monkton. Conditions included multiple limb lameness, emaciation, lice and maggot infestation, an ulcerated penile mass, and dental insufficiency. They denied the charges on December 13, 2024, but were found guilty on March 19, 2026.

Found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal; confiscation order made for all owned animals to be seized and placed into RSPCA care for rehoming.

20 Apr 2026

March 2026 3 cases

Daniel Florin Mihai

Theft *

Sentence

8 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years

Daniel Florin Mihai, 29, of no fixed address, and Vasile Leonard Ionescu targeted supermarkets across the country, including in Harrogate, stealing almost £5,000 worth of mainly chocolate products from late 2025 to early 2026. They brazenly walked into stores like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, with the highest single theft being £670 worth of Lindt, Galaxy and Cadbury chocolate from Sainsbury’s in Malton. The pair were arrested on 3 March 2026 on the A1(M) heading towards Dishforth by North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group following intelligence reports.

Pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft and one count of attempted theft. Issued with a rehabilitation activity requirement, must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, and a two-year criminal behaviour order preventing entry to Tesco, Sainsbury's or Co-Op stores in the UK.

25 Mar 2026

Vasile Leonard Ionescu

Theft *

Sentence

8 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years

Vasile Leonard Ionescu, 26, of Spring Road, Ipswich, and Daniel Florin Mihai targeted supermarkets across the country, including in Harrogate, stealing almost £5,000 worth of mainly chocolate products from late 2025 to early 2026. They brazenly walked into stores like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, with the highest single theft being £670 worth of Lindt, Galaxy and Cadbury chocolate from Sainsbury’s in Malton. The pair were arrested on 3 March 2026 on the A1(M) heading towards Dishforth by North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group following intelligence reports.

Pleaded guilty to 18 counts of theft and one count of attempted theft. Issued with a rehabilitation activity requirement, must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and a two-year criminal behaviour order preventing entry to Tesco, Sainsbury's or Co-Op stores in the UK.

25 Mar 2026

Mark Shipman

Harassment without violence *

Sentence

12-month community order with up to 15 rehabilitation activity days, fined £415

Mark Shipman, 47, of Linton Meadow in Linton-on-Ouse, sent a named woman 163 unwanted emails from a property in Green Hammerton between March 12 and May 27, 2025. He originally denied the offence but changed his plea on February 12, 2026.

Admitted one offence of harassment without violence. Ordered to pay £400 in prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

17 Mar 2026

February 2026 1 case

Mhs Countryside Management Limited

Breach of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 *

Sentence

Fined £27,000

An employee, Kamil Grygieniec, was killed on 8 October 2021 while operating a ride-on lawnmower near a village pond in North Stainley, near Ripon. The mower descended a steep incline and ended up in the pond. The mower's safety-critical roll-over protection system (ROPS) had been removed prior to the incident. The company failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient site-specific risk assessment for the work being undertaken on uneven or sloping ground near water.

Pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Ordered to pay £11,166 in costs.

17 Feb 2026

January 2026 1 case

Benjamin Donnelly

Assaulting an emergency worker by beating *

Sentence

eight-week prison sentence

Benjamin Donnelly, 39, assaulted a named police constable at Harrogate Police Station on September 17, 2025. The incident was described as an unprovoked attack of a serious nature with flagrant disregard for people and their property.

Admitted assaulting an emergency worker by beating. Ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the officer. Custodial sentence justified due to the unprovoked attack of a serious nature and history of violent offending.

6 Jan 2026

November 2025 1 case

Paul Moehr

Breach of domestic violence protection order *

Sentence

7 days imprisonment

Paul Moehr breached a domestic violence protection order imposed on October 22, 2025, by contacting a named woman at The Unicorn Hotel in Ripon on November 12, 2025.

Admitted the breach. Offence considered serious due to appalling record for like offending.

17 Nov 2025

September 2025 4 cases

Aaron Topham

Harassment and Assault *

Sentence

24 weeks imprisonment

Aaron Topham pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a named woman between May 22 and May 26, 2025, through unwanted contact that he knew was harassment. He also assaulted a named man by beating him on Blind Lane in Knaresborough on July 18, 2025. The offences were deemed serious, justifying a custodial sentence due to the nature of the threats involved.

Found guilty of harassment without violence and assault by beating. Offences were aggravated by previous offending record and threats of serious violence. Subject to a restraining order and must pay £650 in prosecution costs.

16 Sep 2025

Jack Whitehouse

Driving whilst disqualified *

Sentence

6 weeks imprisonment and 4 years driving ban

Jack Whitehouse drove a Vauxhall Insignia along Ramshead Grove in Leeds on May 17, 2025, while disqualified and without insurance. The offences were proved in his absence on June 30, 2025, and were considered serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence.

Offences proved in absence; flagrant disregard for court orders; aggravated by criminal record

9 Sep 2025

Humayoun Khan

Unlawful sale of nicotine products *

Sentence

Fined £350 and ordered to pay costs of £1,871 and a surcharge of £140

Humayoun Khan, as director of Barlick Megatronic Mobiles Ltd trading as Phonefix in Ripon, was involved in selling vapes containing more than the legal limit of nicotine and without required labelling. Trading standards officers seized 654 illegal products during visits in February and October 2024, including vapes with 9,000 to 10,000 puffs, equivalent to the nicotine in 45 to 50 packets of cigarettes each. The offences occurred in 2024, leading to guilty pleas.

Pleaded guilty to offences related to selling illegal vapes; the company had been dissolved, so no penalty was imposed on it.

4 Sep 2025

Wayne Johnston

Threatening Behaviour *

Sentence

26 weeks imprisonment

Wayne Johnston used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a named woman in Markington on August 21, 2024, intending to and causing her harassment, alarm or distress.

Admitted the offence, changed plea to guilty on August 5, and the persistent incident was deemed so serious that only a custodial sentence was justified.

2 Sep 2025

August 2025 3 cases

Kelly Rutherford

Theft from a shop *

Sentence

Six weeks imprisonment and £108.25 compensation

Kelly Rutherford, 24, of King Edward Road in Ripon, stole £60 worth of groceries from the Co-op on Skipton Road in Harrogate on August 4, 2025. The following day, she stole drinks worth £9.25 from the Co-op on King Edward’s Drive in Harrogate. She then stole £39 worth of goods from the Skipton Road Co-op on August 14, 2025.

Pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from a shop. Breached a suspended sentence. The offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified, and the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders.

26 Aug 2025

Nathan Mcgowan

Assault *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment and £154 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs

Nathan McGowan, a 31-year-old from Spa Lane in Starbeck, assaulted a named man by beating him at Harrogate Baptist Church on June 12, 2025, while in possession of an ashtray as an offensive weapon.

Pleaded guilty to assault and possessing an offensive weapon. The hammer charge was discontinued. The offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

8 Aug 2025

Dale Lister

Theft *

Sentence

15 weeks imprisonment

Dale Lister sent a voice message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character to an address in Knaresborough on January 15, 2025. He stole goods worth £18.85 from The Co-op in Pannal on April 24, 2025, and stole patio sets valued at £298 from Asda on Harrogate’s Bower Road on May 5, 2025. He also failed to surrender to court bail as required on August 1, 2025.

Denied sending the offensive voice message but was found guilty. Pleaded guilty to thefts. Court documents note a flagrant disregard for court orders, and no separate penalty was imposed for failing to surrender to bail.

5 Aug 2025

June 2025 1 case

Timothy Jason Starkie

Drink Driving and Drug Driving *

Sentence

Banned from driving for 40 months, 1-year community order, 150 days of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation, £114 victim surcharge, and £85 in court costs

Timothy Jason Starkie was driving in the early hours of January 5, 2025, when he crashed into a parked Hyundai on Tang Hall Lane in York. He was found to be over the drink-drive limit, as well as exceeding limits for cannabis and cocaine, based on breathalyser and blood tests. CCTV footage captured the incident, and he was taken to hospital for checks. He had previous convictions for driving under the influence.

Admitted to drink driving and two counts of drug driving. It is his third conviction for such offences. Police commented on his disregard for other road users and the risk he posed.

13 Jun 2025

April 2025 1 case

Joel Humberstone

Voyeurism *

Sentence

9 months imprisonment and to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years

Joel Humberstone targeted an 11-year-old girl on June 11, 2024, in Ripon, by following her, lifting her skirt, and taking a picture, which was witnessed by builders who intervened. He committed a similar offence against a 17-year-old girl on February 27, 2025, in Harrogate, while on his way to court, by approaching her from behind, pulling up her skirt, and taking a photograph or video. He was identified through investigation and public appeals, and his phone was seized as evidence.

Pleaded guilty to operating equipment beneath clothing of another without consent and attempted voyeurism. Detective Constable Karen Everitt described him as a dangerous individual whose actions were terrifying and traumatic for the victims.

11 Apr 2025

March 2025 3 cases

Barry Mcgrath

Assault *

Sentence

2 weeks in prison and £154 victim surcharge

Barry McGrath, a 46-year-old man of North Marine Road, Scarborough, was arrested for assaulting one of his associates during a disturbance in Scarborough town centre on March 26, 2025. He had recently been released from prison, and his actions led to new charges and recall to complete a prior sentence.

Pleaded guilty to the assault. Also subject to prison recall for a previous conviction.

26 Mar 2025

Richard Benjamin Moore

Driving while disqualified *

Sentence

50 weeks imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 12 months

Richard Benjamin Moore was driving a vehicle involved in a collision on West Street on March 22, 2025. He was arrested that night and pleaded guilty to the offenses. The incident involved driving while disqualified, without insurance, theft from a shop, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, theft from a shop, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

26 Mar 2025

Sadie Metcalfe

Assault *

Sentence

14 weeks custody and £50 compensation

Sadie Metcalfe, a 31-year-old woman of no fixed abode, was arrested for possession of a Class C drug. She ran from police and was apprehended on Westborough, where she used abusive language towards officers. En-route to custody, she assaulted a police officer by kicking her. The incident occurred on March 26, 2025, in Scarborough town centre.

Pleaded guilty to the charges.

26 Mar 2025

January 2025 1 case

Donovan Morley-Clough

Unfair Trading *

Sentence

Fined and ordered to pay £1,000 and £550 in compensation, plus £950 in fines and costs

Donovan Morley-Clough, trading as DNIJ Home Improvements, accepted deposits from customers for roofing and home improvement work but failed to carry out the agreed services. In one case, a resident in East Ayton paid him £1,000 for repointing and ridge tile work, plus scaffolding, but he never started the job and blocked her on Facebook when she sought a refund. In another instance, a customer in Holme on Spalding Moor paid £1,100 for soffit and guttering materials, which were never supplied, and he only repaid £550 after intervention from the customer's contact with his girlfriend. These actions occurred in 2024 or earlier, leading to an investigation by North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards team.

Pleaded guilty to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Now unemployed and receiving Universal Credit.

31 Jan 2025

November 2024 1 case

William Thompson (York) Limited

Breach of Health and Safety at Work Act *

Sentence

£500,000 fine

On November 14, 2023, a 41-year-old supervisor at William Thompson (York) Limited's Jubilee Mill site in York became entangled in a rotating auger while attempting to fix a maintenance issue on a press that was still operating at high speed. His foot was caught, resulting in severe life-changing injuries requiring six weeks in hospital. The Health and Safety Executive found that the company failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machinery and did not carry out a suitable risk assessment.

Admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974. Ordered to pay £4,455 in costs.

18 Nov 2024

October 2024 4 cases

Marcus Crosby

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger *

Sentence

12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work

On 12 May in the early hours, Marcus Crosby and three other men drove from Stockton and Middlesbrough areas to Kilburn in North Yorkshire in a Jeep Cherokee with a pit bull and a lurcher. The pit bull attacked a badger, mauling it to death while the men watched. Police were alerted by members of the public and arrived to find the men ‘looking into the bushes’ at the dog savaging the badger. The men fled but were later arrested. The badger squealed in pain before dying. They were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger.

Pleaded guilty. Also banned from entering North Yorkshire for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 12 months, banned from keeping dogs for 5 years, and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

11 Oct 2024

Timothy Tyres

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger *

Sentence

12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work

On 12 May in the early hours, Timothy Tyres and three other men drove from Stockton and Middlesbrough areas to Kilburn in North Yorkshire in a Jeep Cherokee with a pit bull and a lurcher. The pit bull attacked a badger, mauling it to death while the men watched. Police were alerted by members of the public and arrived to find the men ‘looking into the bushes’ at the dog savaging the badger. The men fled but were later arrested. The badger squealed in pain before dying. They were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger.

Pleaded guilty. Also banned from entering North Yorkshire for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 12 months, banned from keeping dogs for 5 years, and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

11 Oct 2024

Liam Parkinson

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger *

Sentence

12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work

On 12 May in the early hours, Liam Parkinson and three other men drove from Stockton and Middlesbrough areas to Kilburn in North Yorkshire in a Jeep Cherokee with a pit bull and a lurcher belonging to Parkinson. The pit bull attacked a badger, mauling it to death while the men watched. Police were alerted by members of the public and arrived to find the men ‘looking into the bushes’ at the dog savaging the badger. The men fled but were later arrested. The badger squealed in pain before dying. They were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger.

Pleaded guilty. Parkinson was the only defendant with a job and the only one with a previous adult conviction. The driving ban means he will lose his job. Also banned from entering North Yorkshire for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 12 months, banned from keeping dogs for 5 years, and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs. His lurcher dog died while in kennels.

11 Oct 2024

Brogan Smithson

Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger *

Sentence

12-month community order and fined £200.56

On 12 May in the early hours, Brogan Smithson and three other men drove from Stockton and Middlesbrough areas to Kilburn in North Yorkshire in a Jeep Cherokee with a pit bull and a lurcher. Smithson filmed as the pit bull attacked a badger, mauling it to death while the men watched. Police were alerted by members of the public and arrived to find the men ‘looking into the bushes’ at the dog savaging the badger. The men fled but were later arrested. The badger squealed in pain before dying. Smithson was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and ill-treatment of a badger.

Pleaded guilty. Smithson was 17 at the time of the offence and had serious mental health problems. His involvement was peripheral, filming the incident. Also banned from entering North Yorkshire for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 12 months, banned from keeping dogs for 5 years, and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

11 Oct 2024

August 2024 3 cases

Frankie Barker

Shoplifting *

Sentence

12 weeks imprisonment

Frankie Barker, along with Kim Foster, committed two shoplifting offences, including the theft of £400 worth of sweet treats from Hotel Chocolat in Stonegate on January 24, 2024. The pair were captured on CCTV, which led to their identification and arrest. Barker had a prior suspended sentence from March for separate shop thefts.

Pleaded guilty to two shoplifting offences committed jointly with Kim Foster. Had 20 previous convictions for 67 offences, including 56 thefts dating back to 2012, and had been to prison multiple times. He stole to fund substance misuse and was on benefits.

8 Aug 2024

Kim Foster

Shoplifting *

Sentence

28 weeks imprisonment

Kim Foster targeted several shops in York and Northallerton between March 2024 and February 2024, stealing goods worth more than £2,600. Her offences included taking a cashmere scarf and lambswool stoles worth £202 from Kiltane clothing store on New Year's Day, £400 worth of goods from Hotel Chocolat on January 24, £35 of Harry Potter-themed items from The Shop That Must Not Be Named on the same day, and £309.85 from Hotel Chocolat's Northallerton branch on December 21, 2023. She also committed fraud by falsely claiming a lost gift card worth £65.95 at Seasalt clothing store in June 2024. The crimes were captured on CCTV, leading to her arrest.

Admitted 11 counts of shoplifting and one count of fraud. Had 17 previous convictions for 29 offences, including going equipped for theft. Judge noted she was the lead offender in joint thefts with her partner and had a suspended sentence from March.

8 Aug 2024

Amanda Brooks

Drink-driving *

Sentence

10-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months, 32-month driving ban, £120 fine, £170 costs, and £154 statutory surcharge

Amanda Brooks, 54, crashed her car into bushes in the Aldi car park in Water Lane, Clifton, York, on June 11 while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit (breath sample of 148mcg). Police were called after she reversed and drove across the car park on a busy shopping day. She committed a second drink-driving offence on July 4, being three-and-a-half times over the limit. She failed to appear in court initially, leading to her arrest, and expressed deep shame for her conduct.

Pleaded guilty to two drink-driving offences. Has a medical condition affecting alcohol processing, is a first-time offender, and has undergone counselling for alcohol issues while under care for a liver condition.

6 Aug 2024

September 2023 1 case

Sylvia Woodward

Animal welfare offence *

Sentence

Suspended 12-week prison sentence and banned from keeping animals indefinitely, plus costs of £400 and a £154 victim surcharge

Sylvia Woodward starved two young German Shepherd dogs, Sam and Merlin, at her property in Burythorpe. Sam died from starvation, and she buried his remains in her garden. Merlin was found emaciated, taken into RSPCA care, and later euthanised due to his deteriorating physical and mental health. The abuse involved malnutrition, neglect, and inappropriate living conditions, with evidence showing the dogs had suffered for months.

Pleaded guilty to one Animal Welfare Act offence. Sentence suspended for 12 months due to low risk of re-offending and strong personal mitigation, including health and mobility issues.

4 Sep 2023

July 2023 1 case

Jamie Dall

Possession of cannabis *

Sentence

Fined £120 and ordered to pay a £48 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs

Police raided Jamie Dall's home on April 18, 2023, discovering cannabis products worth nearly £2,000, including bags of cannabis valued between £1,000 and £1,700, herbal cannabis flower tops, tetrahydrocannabinol pens worth between £200 and £240, cannabis edibles, and 10 mobile phones. Initially suspected of drug dealing, but after reviewing phone contents and other evidence, police found no indication of intent to supply and closed the investigation.

Pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for his own use. Used for medicinal purposes due to conditions including epilepsy from a brain tumour, depression, and anxiety.

22 Jul 2023

June 2023 1 case

Andrew Keith Piner

Unfair Trading *

Sentence

£3,885.84 fine, costs, and surcharge

Andrew Keith Piner was paid £1,880 to provide a summerhouse and a gate but failed to carry out the work despite texting the customer in May 2023 to say it would be ready that week. In June 2023, he admitted there was no summerhouse or gate and promised a refund, but none was provided, forcing the 77-year-old resident to instruct a solicitor and leading to a trading standards investigation.

Pleaded guilty to one offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. Judge noted it was not the first time with trading standards issues and warned that failure to change behaviour could lead to being known as a rogue trader.

4 Jun 2023

May 2023 1 case

Phillip Iveson

Breach of Health and Safety at Work Act *

Sentence

Fined £1,822 and ordered to pay costs of £2,358

Phillip Iveson, as director of Norman Iveson Steel Products Limited, failed to implement basic working at height control measures, such as proper safety netting, and to plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase safely. This led to a worker falling through a fragile roof light while installing roof sheeting on a sheep barn in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on October 11, 2022, resulting in severe injuries including cranial fractures, rib fractures, a cranial bleed, hearing loss, spinal fractures, and other complications.

Pleaded guilty to Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as a director of Norman Iveson Steel Products Limited.

22 May 2023

December 2020 1 case

Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd

Breach of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 *

Sentence

Fined £333,344

On May 30, 2019, a child under 1.5 metres tall was thrown off the Twister ride at Lightwater Valley theme park in Ripon due to not wearing a seat belt, suffering life-changing head injuries. The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the park's procedures required seat belts for children between 1.2 and 1.5 metres but they were not enforced, many belts were malfunctioning, and lap bar restraints did not fully contain smaller passengers. CCTV and public statements confirmed multiple children rode without proper restraints.

Pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Ordered to pay costs of £16,183. The company accepted full responsibility and has been providing support to the family.

4 Dec 2020

April 2020 2 cases

Vicki Mcwilliams

Animal Welfare Act offences *

Sentence

Fined £268

James McWilliams and Vicki McWilliams neglected three cats and two dogs in their home in Park Lane, Middleham, North Yorkshire, discovered during a police visit in June 2019. The property was unhygienic and unfit for habitation with faecal contamination, urine-soaked surfaces, lack of bedding, and inadequate food. Animals included a severely matted Bichon Frise dog named Cloud confined to a crate without bedding, showing urine staining, flea infestation, and low body condition due to prolonged neglect over at least three weeks; a nervous British Shorthair kitten Bluebell with thinning fur and scabby skin; her sister Lavender; a three-legged Maine Coon cat Winter who suffered from unkempt coat, untreated fleas, dermatitis, dehydration, and hypothermia, making her especially vulnerable; and a Cane Corso dog Riot who was not suffering but was subject to a deprivation order.

Pleaded guilty to five offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act. Banned from keeping animals for life. Ordered to pay victim surcharge of £108 and costs of £200. Admitted in interview that the dog Cloud was confined for six to eight hours a day and was suffering. Represented herself in court.

14 Apr 2020

James Mcwilliams

Animal Welfare Act offences *

Sentence

Fined £656

James McWilliams and Vicki McWilliams neglected three cats and two dogs in their home in Park Lane, Middleham, North Yorkshire, discovered during a police visit in June 2019. The property was unhygienic and unfit for habitation with faecal contamination, urine-soaked surfaces, lack of bedding, and inadequate food. Animals included a severely matted Bichon Frise dog named Cloud confined to a crate without bedding, showing urine staining, flea infestation, and low body condition due to prolonged neglect over at least three weeks; a nervous British Shorthair kitten Bluebell with thinning fur and scabby skin; her sister Lavender; a three-legged Maine Coon cat Winter who suffered from unkempt coat, untreated fleas, dermatitis, dehydration, and hypothermia, making her especially vulnerable; and a Cane Corso dog Riot who was not suffering but was subject to a deprivation order.

Pleaded guilty to five offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act. Banned from keeping animals for life. Ordered to pay victim surcharge of £256 and costs of £200. Represented himself in court and admitted messing up the care of pets despite prior experience with animals.

14 Apr 2020

Date Not Specified 10 cases

James Murfitt

Assault and threatening to burn down a house *

Sentence

6 months imprisonment

James Murfitt assaulted a woman at an address in Sowerby on Saturday, May 7, 2022, and threatened to burn down her house. He also possessed cocaine at Harrogate Police Station on April 16, 2022. He had breached a community order imposed for a previous assault on a police officer by failing to attend unpaid work appointments.

Pleaded guilty to assault, threatening to burn down a house, possession of cocaine, and breach of a community order. Ordered to pay £200 compensation and issued with a restraining order.

1 Jan 0001

Gareth Parkinson

Drug driving *

Sentence

Banned from driving for 22 months, community order with 70 hours unpaid work, fined £180

Gareth Parkinson was arrested on the A684 at Leeming Bar on April 15, 2021. Tests showed he had cannabis and cocaine in his system, and he was also found to be driving without insurance.

Pleaded guilty to all charges.

1 Jan 0001

Geoffrey Stuart Dobson

Burglary *

Sentence

20 weeks imprisonment

Geoffrey Stuart Dobson, 43, of Prospect View, Northallerton, broke into Barkers department store on High Street, Northallerton, which was closed and locked, at about 3.15pm on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. He stole clothing items including Armani, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss items valued at over £2,500. He cycled away but returned a few minutes later to take more items. He was identified from CCTV and arrested the next day. He had been released from HMP Hull on May 26, one day before the burglary.

Pleaded guilty to a single charge of burglary. The offence was more serious because it was committed immediately after release from prison and while on post-sentence supervision, and due to his record of previous offending. Ordered to pay £128 victim surcharge.

1 Jan 0001

David Norman Nicholson

Theft *

Sentence

Community order with up to 20 days rehabilitation activities, ordered to pay £600 compensation

David Norman Nicholson stole two Ralph Lauren jackets worth £700 in June 2021 and a Ralph Lauren purse and cross body bag worth £428 on August 1, 2022, from Barkers department store in Northallerton.

Admitted the thefts. Banned from Barkers department store for one year.

1 Jan 0001

Jamie Orchard

Driving while disqualified *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment

Jamie Orchard was caught riding an e-scooter on Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, on 13 October while disqualified from driving following a drug driving conviction in November 2020. He failed to stop for a police officer and had no insurance. He also possessed cannabis. The court activated a 16-week suspended sentence for the earlier drug driving offence and imposed a 16-week custodial term.

Admitted failing to stop for police, riding an e-scooter without insurance, and possession of cannabis. Also admitted wilfully insulting the justice but no separate penalty after apologising. Subject to a suspended sentence for drug driving from a November 2020 incident which was activated due to these offences. Also fined £128 and banned from driving for four years and five months.

1 Jan 0001

Josh Varley

Attempting sexual communication with a child *

Sentence

12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months

Josh Varley, a 30-year-old man from York, engaged in sexual chats with a decoy profile posing as a 12-year-old boy between 23 May and 12 June, sending a sexual image of himself and repeatedly requesting sexual selfies. The profile was operated by police as part of a sting. He was arrested on 23 November, and his phone was found to contain 259 indecent images of children, including 53 Category A, 95 Category B, and 111 Category C. He pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of children.

Pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of children. No previous convictions. Remorseful, engaged with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. Also ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme, 10 days rehabilitative activities, 60 hours unpaid work, pay £187 surcharge and £85 costs, register as a sex offender, and subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Deputy District Judge Imran Hussain described child abuse as 'evil, abhorrent and cruel'.

1 Jan 0001

Joshua Walsh

Sexual assault *

Sentence

20 weeks imprisonment

Joshua Walsh, a 34-year-old man with no fixed address, appeared at York Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault involving women in York. The offences, which constituted serious breaches of personal safety, led to his immediate incarceration. The court heard details of the incidents, though specifics were not publicly detailed in the reporting to protect the victims' privacy. Walsh's actions were deemed sexual offences under UK law, prompting the judiciary to impose both punitive and protective measures. He was jailed for 20 weeks. In addition, Walsh was mandated to register as a sex offender for seven years.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. Required to register as a sex offender for seven years.

1 Jan 0001

Amy Mcdonagh

Failure to comply with sex offenders register and theft *

Sentence

18-month community order with six months alcohol treatment and 10 days rehabilitative activities

Amy McDonagh, a 40-year-old woman from York, failed to report to police as required by the sex offenders' register on 22 January 2024. She was homeless and suffering from severe alcoholism. Police issued a wanted notice and she was arrested, admitting she forgot the appointment due to her drinking. She also stole alcohol from Sainsbury's on 12 February (£21.60) and 15 February (£8.60) and from Tesco on 15 February (£14.90). She pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the register and three counts of theft. Her solicitor said her underlying sexual offence was a drunken kiss on a barman's cheek, and she had PTSD and vulnerabilities. She now resides at Peaseholm Centre.

Pleaded guilty to all charges. Additionally ordered to pay £9.10 compensation to Sainsbury's, £14.90 to Tesco, £114 statutory surcharge, and £85 prosecution costs. She has a prior conviction for sexual assault, witness intimidation, and thefts resulting in a one-year jail term and placement on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

1 Jan 0001

Aaran Wallis

Fraud *

Sentence

50 hours unpaid work and £550 compensation

Aaran Wallis advertised a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor for sale on Facebook and in private messages with the intention of defrauding the victim out of £550. The offence took place between 7 February and 11 April 2022.

Pleaded guilty. Guilty plea taken into account.

1 Jan 0001

Alastair Nigel Burt

Sending malicious messages *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment

Alastair Nigel Burt sent several grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing messages on February 13 and 14, 2021. He also damaged a Suzuki Alto without lawful excuse on February 9, 2021. The offences occurred while he was subject to a 12-week suspended sentence for a previous conviction of sending malicious messages, imposed on December 9, 2020. He admitted the charges.

Pleaded guilty. Also ordered to pay £382.20 compensation. Offences committed while subject to a suspended sentence for similar previously sending malicious messages.

1 Jan 0001

York Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Josh Jones

Julian Gabriel Ashley Drumm

George Robinson

Robert Jones

Ian James Hartley

Amanda June Thompson

Daniel Florin Mihai

Vasile Leonard Ionescu

Mark Shipman

Mhs Countryside Management Limited

Benjamin Donnelly

Paul Moehr

Aaron Topham

Jack Whitehouse

Humayoun Khan

Wayne Johnston

Kelly Rutherford

Nathan Mcgowan

Dale Lister

Timothy Jason Starkie

Joel Humberstone

Barry Mcgrath

Richard Benjamin Moore

Sadie Metcalfe

Donovan Morley-Clough

William Thompson (York) Limited

Marcus Crosby

Timothy Tyres

Liam Parkinson

Brogan Smithson

Frankie Barker

Kim Foster

Amanda Brooks

Sylvia Woodward

Jamie Dall

Andrew Keith Piner

Phillip Iveson

Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd

Vicki Mcwilliams

James Mcwilliams

James Murfitt

Gareth Parkinson

Geoffrey Stuart Dobson

David Norman Nicholson

Jamie Orchard

Josh Varley

Joshua Walsh

Amy Mcdonagh

Aaran Wallis

Alastair Nigel Burt

About York Magistrates' Court

Nearby Courts

York Crown Court

Harrogate Magistrates Court

Leeds Crown Court

Leeds Magistrates Court

Beverley Magistrates Court

Bradford Crown Court

Request Removal