A motorbike was destroyed in a fire believed to have been caused deliberately in Knaresborough last night.
On-call firefighters from the town were caused to a recreational area near Halfpenny Lane at 9.29pm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said the motorbike was “well alight” when they arrived.
“Crews extinguished the vehicle using a hose reel jet. The motorcycle sustained 100% fire damage and the cause was believed to had been deliberate.”
Knaresborough firefighters were called out earlier last night when they helped police deal with four youths on top of a commercial building on High Street.
The incident report said:
“Crews accessed the roof and politely persuaded the youths to come down from the roof via an internal stairway.
“The youths came down by their own accord and the incident was left in the hands of police.”
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Arsonists set traffic cones on fire in Knaresborough
Firefighters were called out shortly after 2am this morning when traffic cones were set on fire in Knaresborough.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service believes the fire was caused deliberately.
Its incident log said the Knaresborough crew was summoned to King James Road at 2.13am, adding:
“Knaresborough crew have dealt with traffic cones on fire in the open.
“Crew used buckets of water and the cause is believed to be deliberate.”
No further details have been released.
Four weeks of roadworks began last weekend on King James Road and York Place in Knaresborough to enable Northern Powergrid to install electricity cables.
The junction of the two roads is due to reopen on Monday with four-way temporary lights in place until the expected completion date of Tuesday, June 20.
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Harrogate village cricket pavilion destroyed in suspected arson attack
Arsonists are believed to have destroyed a cricket pavilion in a village near Harrogate.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Weeton Lane in Weeton at 8.40pm last night to reports of a shed fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log added:
“On arrival this was found to be a wooden cricket pavilion which was completely destroyed. Crews used one hose reel to extinguish the fire.”
The incident log did not give a cause of fire but villagers have reported seeing youths fleeing from the scene.
The cricket club in Weeton folded years ago and the pavilion had fallen into a state of disrepair.
Some frustrated villagers are keen to mount a campaign to restore the site to community use.
Man’s hand burned
In a separate incident later last night, Harrogate firefighters responded at 10.30pm to a smoke alarm going off in a house on Olive Grove in Harrogate.
The incident log said:
“This involved a candle which is believed to have been left unattended, causing smouldering to surrounding surface.
“One male suffered burns to his hand, received treatment from fire crew and will make his own way to hospital. Crew also ventilated property. Burn pack used.”
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Arson at Harrogate’s Kimberley Hotel: police appeal for witnesses
Police today appealed for witnesses and information about a suspected arson at the former Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate.
Eight fire engines were called to the derelict 90-bed hotel on King’s Road at about 11pm on Tuesday last week when smoke was seen pouring out of the front and rear of the building.
Half of the main building was damaged by smoke and an annex was destroyed.
A subsequent investigation by firefighters concluded the fire is believed to have been caused deliberately.
Fire crews outside the Kimberley Hotel last week.
Six days on, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:
“As part of the ongoing police investigation, we are appealing people to come forward about any suspicious activity at the location and particularly on the evening of Tuesday March 7.”
You can email ellie.paul@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, select option 2, and ask for Ellie Paul or pass information on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230042171 when providing details.
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Police launch arson investigation after Harrogate Kimberley Hotel fire
North Yorkshire Police has launched an arson investigation after a fire last night at the Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate.
Eight fire engines were called to the blaze at the hotel off Kings Road at around 11pm. Half the main building was damaged by smoke and an annex was destroyed.
Firefighters closed the road for several hours.
A spokesperson for the police confirmed to the Stray Ferret that officers are now investigating the incident as arson.
They said:
“The incident has been confirmed as arson and a police investigation has been commenced.
“Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, or anyone who has any information which would assist officers with their enquiries is asked to contact the force control room on 101, quoting reference 12230042171.”
Pictures of the damage caused by the fire inside the hotel. Picture: Harrogate Fire Station.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident log this morning said:
“Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Tadcaster, Northallerton, Skipton and Malton along with the aerial ladder platform responded to reports of smoke issuing from a disused hotel.
“Crews used 20 breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets, one main jet and lance, lighting, thermal imaging cameras, small tools, door enforcer, hydraulic spreaders, reciprocating saw, drills and a triple extension ladder to fight the fire.
“The fire caused 100% fire damage to the annex measuring 10m by 10m and caused 5% fire damage and 50% smoke damage to the main building.”
The hotel off Kings Road has recently being subject to drug and crime concerns.
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Overnight arson attack on shed in Harrogate’s Dalby Avenue
Harrogate and Knaresborough firefighters were called out last night to a shed that was set alight on purpose.
The crew was summoned to Dalby Avenue in Harrogate at 4.53am to deal with the incident.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said:
“The cause was deliberate.”
Earlier in the night, a crew from Harrogate went to Starbeck High Street at 1.14am to a report of a male locked out of his home.
The incident log said:
“The male needed access to medication inside therefore crews used a lock snapper and spreaders to gain entry.”
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Man jailed for setting fire to historic Knaresborough pub
A man has been jailed for setting fire to a historic Knaresborough pub and causing £15,000 worth of damage.
Stephen Pearson, of Pinhoe Road in Exeter, was charged with arson at Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.
He admitted the offence and was jailed for 31 months at York Crown Court this morning.
Pearson, who had grown up in the area, had been in Knaresborough for a week’s holiday to visit old places from his childhood.
The court heard how, because the weather was poor, the 45-year-old decided to go drinking in Wetherspoons.
At around 8.15pm, he went to Blind Jack’s pub where customers complained he had been handing out flyers from a bag.
Dan Cowdy, prosecuting, told the court that Pearson had been asked politely by bar staff to leave the premises.
He was described as “smelling of cannabis” and stumbling.
Mr Cowdy said:
“On his way out, he asked if [other customers] had complained about him.”
The court was told that Pearson then went to the Cross Keys pub and missed his train to Leeds.
As a result, he decided to sleep in the castle grounds and woke up at 4am.
‘Woke up cold and angry’
Mr Cowdy told the court that Pearson “woke up feeling cold and angry” and began walking back to Market Place.
On his way, he picked up a bin bag of paper and placed it in front of Blind Jack’s pub.
CCTV shown in court showed Pearson attempting to light the bag multiple times at 4.14am.
He then left and returned with a piece of paper at 4.27am, which he set fire to and used to ignite the bag before leaving the scene.
CCTV footage from the fire, which shows the bin bag in front of the pub.
The fire caused an estimated £15,235 worth of damage to the door, glass and signage of the pub.
The Grade II listed pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the industrial revolution.
The fire service extinguished the blaze and Pearson was arrested and later charged with arson.
Owners left feeling ‘unsafe and anxious’
Owners Christian and Alice Ogley were staying at a friend’s house at the time of the incident.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Ogley said then fire had left them “constantly checking” CCTV and feeling “unsafe and anxious”.
He said:
“We feel that the effect of this incident has made us feel unsafe.”
The court heard how during interviews with North Yorkshire Police, Pearson apologised and described himself as “an idiot”.
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He told officers that he did not intend to set fire to the pub itself, but wanted to leave the bag in front of the building as he was angry.
Mr Cowdy said:
“He assumed that the pub was empty and that no one lived there.”
Mitigating for Pearson, George Hazel-Owrem told the court that the 45-year-old had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
He added that Pearson had shown “genuine remorse” for his crime and had issues with alcoholism and homelessness.
Mr Hazel-Owrem said:
“It is plain that he has a number of serious issues, particularly with alcohol and as a consequence of that has been homeless for some time.
“He also suffers from depression and anxiety and has had suicidal ideation in the past.”
Sentencing Pearson, Judge Simon Hickey told him that the fire had a significant impact on the victims.
He said:
“As the owners have pointed out, it had a drastic effect of them and a knock-on effect as they came out of covid.”
However, he accepted that Pearson had shown remorse for his actions.
Pearson was jailed for 30 months for arson, plus an extra month to be served consecutively for assaulting an emergency worker in Devon while on bail for the Blind Jack’s offence.
He will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.
Man admits setting fire to historic Knaresborough pubA 45-year-old man has pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Knaresborough pub last year.
Stephen Pearson, of Pinhoe Road in Exeter, was charged with arson at Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before York Crown Court this morning.
Pearson’s defence counsel told the court that he had “a number of difficulties” over the years and was currently seeing a clinical psychologist on a regular basis.
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The defence requested that the case be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Judge Simon Hickey adjourned sentencing Pearson until November 18.
He told him that he must “realise the consequences that may follow” when he appears before court again.
Blind Jack’s on Market Place, Knaresborough.
The pub was damaged in the blaze at around 4am on the morning of August 21, 2021.
Owners Christian and Alice Ogley were away at the time of the fire and nobody was injured.
The Grade II listed pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the Industrial Revolution.
Man to appear in court charged with arson at Knaresborough pubA 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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Girls aged 13 and 14 admit setting fire to bins in Harrogate
Two girls aged 13 and 14 have admitted setting commercial bins on fire in Harrogate town centre.
The girls, who are both from Harrogate, cannot be named for legal reasons.
They pleaded guilty to arson on a Biffa bin worth £600 belonging to Primark on Oxford Place on May 23.
They also admitted the same charge relating to a bin worth £600 belonging to Harrogate Borough Council on May 26.
The 13-year-old is the same girl who admitted in June being drunk in Ripon and attacking three police officers.
They appeared before North Yorkshire Youth Court in Harrogate on Friday, where they were referred to a youth offender panel for 12 months.
They were also ordered to pay £50 compensation.
The older girl also pleaded guilty to separate charges of causing actual bodily harm on June 19 and assaulting a police officer three days later.
She was ordered to pay £200 compensation plus £85 court costs and a £26 surcharge to fund victim services.
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