Harrogate man jailed for wielding knife and spitting at police officer

A Harrogate man who spat at a police officer after being arrested for wielding a knife in the town centre has been jailed for 18 months.

Matthew Liam Tuck, 28, took out the blade during an argument with two men outside a pizza shop on Station Parade in the early hours of July 29.

He then walked towards one of the men while “waving and brandishing” what was thought to be a kitchen knife, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Jade Bucklow said another man intervened and Tuck was taken to ground. But then Tuck got back to his feet and, still brandishing the knife, lunged at one of the men, although he didn’t try to strike him with the blade.

Tuck then walked around the street holding the knife aloft and a hooded top, said Ms Bucklow.

She added:

“Shortly afterwards, police arrived and the defendant drops the knife and the hoodie in the street.”

Tuck was brought in for questioning but refused to answer police questions. He was kept in custody overnight.

The following day, he pressed the buzzer in his cell to get the attention of custody staff and an officer spoke to him through the cell door shutter as Tuck was becoming “agitated” and started hitting himself in the head. He then spat in the face of the officer through the cell hatch.

Ms Buckle said:

“Some of it landed in her mouth.”

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The officer was taken to hospital for blood tests for Hepatitis B. The prosecution said it was “unclear” whether this was a purely precautionary measure.

Tuck, of Bower Street, was charged with carrying a knife and assaulting an emergency worker. He admitted the offences and appeared for sentence via video link today after being remanded in custody.

Ms Buckley said the victim of the spitting incident said she felt “devastated, disgusted and dirty” after Tuck spat in her face. 

126 previous offences

Tuck, a sometime builder, had 49 previous convictions for 126 offences including violence. In November last year, he received a 16-week jail sentence for assaulting a police officer.

In that incident, Tuck, who was on a police “wanted” list, became “aggressive and verbally abusive” as officers approached him. He resisted arrest and kneed one of the officers in the crotch.

Defence barrister John Batchelor said Tuck’s recollection of the incidents in July were “sketchy” as he had taken Diazepam. 

He said that Tuck “lost his head” after his partner told him she had been assaulted. However, Tuck was “in no fit state” to aim his ire at the men he targeted outside the pizza parlour.

Recorder Mr T. Clayson said Tuck’s attack on the men in the street was born of “nothing” and described his spitting at the officer as “very offensive”.

He told Tuck: 

“This was bad and you know you have got to serve a prison sentence for it.”

He added, however, that the officer’s seeking treatment at hospital appeared to be preventative rather than due to an actual diagnosis of Hepatitis B.

The judge described Tuck’s criminal record as “appalling”, adding that it was “extremely sad to see a young man now leaving his formative years who (is) still getting into the sort of trouble which is pretty inexcusable for someone who is 28”.

Mr Clayson said the only way Took was going to turn his life around and stay out of trouble was by renouncing drugs and getting a job. 

Tuck will serve half of the 18-month jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.  

Police launch investigation after PCSO assaulted in Knaresborough

Police have launched an investigation after a police community support officer was assaulted in Knaresborough.

The incident happened around 3pm on Tuesday (July 25) in Knaresborough Market Place.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police said they have arrested a young man in connection with the assault.

He has since been released on bail while enquiries are conducted.

A police statement added:

“Officers are appealing for witnesses or footage which could help with this investigation.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email holly.nicholls@northyorkshire.police.uk.

“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Holly Nicholls.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230138428.”

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Two people robbed and assaulted on Knaresborough street

Two people were robbed and assaulted while walking in Knaresborough in the early hours of this morning.

North Yorkshire Police this afternoon appealed for witnesses and information following the incident, which occurred at about 2am.

The force said in a statement:

“The two victims were walking on Aspin Lane when they were approached by two men and assaulted. One of the victims had their mobile phone stolen. The offenders left the area in a black Alfa Romeo.

“A short time later officers arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of robbery, possession of a class-A drug and class-B drug and drug driving.

“An 18-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of a class-B drug. Both men currently remain in police custody.”

Anyone with information or CCTV footage is asked to email jenifer.doyle@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2, and ask for Jenifer Doyle.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230113081.

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Man admits assault and having knuckleduster in Harrogate bar

A man has admitted assaulting two women and possessing a knuckleduster in Harrogate.

Adam Smith, 40, pleaded guilty to the charges at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

Smith, of Bunting Drive, Tockwith assaulted a named woman and a female police officer on The Ginnel on April 15 this year.

He also admitted having a knuckleduster in Manahatta, which is also on The Ginnel.

Magistrates gave Smith a community order, which required him to abstain from alcohol for 120 days and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was also fined £349.

Court documents said the defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence.

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Police issue CCTV images after man left unconscious in Harrogate

Police are appealing for help to trace two men in connection with an incident in Harrogate that left a man unconscious.

It happened at the Foundry Project in The Ginnel on March 11. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

North Yorkshire Police has today issued three CCTV images of the two men officers would like to speak to, saying one had a “distinctive white hat”.

A spokesperson for the force said:

“Officers are appealing to anyone who can help identify the men in the image, including one who was wearing a distinctive white hat, as they believe they will have information that could assist the investigation.”

Anyone who can provide information should email stephen.mangham@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option two and ask for PC 1604 Mangham.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting reference 12230044921.

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Anger management order for Knaresborough man who assaulted taxi driver

A former member of the armed services has been handed a community order for assaulting a taxi driver near Knaresborough.

Cameron Michael Dumsday, of Hawthorn Avenue in the town, pleaded guilty to common assault at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard he had taken a taxi from outside McDonald’s in Harrogate, along with another man, on Thursday, March 23.

During the journey to Knaresborough, the other passenger began to challenge the way the taxi was being driven, alleging the driver was speeding and cutting across junctions.

When the driver pulled over into a lay-by, the court heard Dumsday, 26, was trying to calm the situation down, but the other passenger called the police.

Dumsday then lost his temper and began making threats towards the driver, who had locked himself in the car. Prosecuting, Alison Whiteley said:

“He was telling the police that if they didn’t get there very soon, he would assault the taxi driver. He said, ‘I’ve been done for assault before and I don’t mind being done again’.”

The driver then decided to try to run away, and the defendant chased him across a busy road three times before police arrived.

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Defending, Andrew Tinning said Dumsday had drunk six or seven pints in Harrogate, but it had been an untroubled evening until they became concerned about the way the taxi was being driven on the way home.

Dumsday acknowledged he should not have lost his temper in the way he did, said Mr Tinning, adding:

“Fortunately, he doesn’t touch [the taxi driver]. He is here for assault on the basis the taxi driver feared he was going to use violence against him.”

The court heard Dumsday, who had served four years in the army and now worked as a lorry driver, had “a short fuse” and could lose his temper when he felt he needed to defend those around him. He had two previous convictions for assaulting police officers in 2018, for which he received fines.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with the requirement to undertake 20 days on a programme to help him manage his emotions.

He was fined £710 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £114, costs of £85, and compensation of £6.80 for the taxi fare and £100 for the distress caused to the taxi driver.

Harrogate man jailed for assaulting three police officers in Ripon

A man from a village near Harrogate has been jailed for six months for assaulting police officers.

James Ashley Gibb, 34, initially denied attacking three police officers in Ripon Market Place on October 28 last year.

But Gibb, of Ripon Road, Killinghall, changed his plea and was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court last week.

Court documents say he was jailed due to the seriousness of the offence and also “because of different kinds of assaults including biting, kicking and threat of spitting and committed whilst on post-sentence supervision”.

The offence was aggravated by the defendant’s record of previous offending, the documents added.

Ripon Market Square arrest

The incident in Ripon Market Place last year

Gibb also pleaded guilty to using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words.

He was also given a concurrent four-month prison sentence for threatening a person on Station Parade in Harrogate on January 14 this year.

Besides being jailed, he was fined £275.

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Ripon man jailed for assaulting woman while on bail

A man has been jailed after assaulting a woman in Ripon while on bail.

Steven James Brown, 35, appeared before York Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with assault causing actual bodily harm on February 7.

Brown, of Skelldale Close in the city, pleaded guilty to assaulting the named victim on Lynden Close while on bail.

The court jailed the 35-year-old for 35 weeks.

Magistrates said the offence was aggravated by the defendant’s previous record and that it was committed while Brown was on bail.

The court also ordered Brown to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

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Knaresborough teacher assault: all 4 girls arrested released without charge

All four girls arrested after a teacher was assaulted at King James’ School in Knaresborough have now been released without charge.

North Yorkshire Police said in an update today a 16-year-old who was arrested several hours after the incident on suspicion of affray had now been released on bail.

Police previously said a teenage girl arrested for an alleged assault on a female member of staff and criminal damage shortly after the incident had already been released on bail.

They also revealed two other teenage girls arrested for breach of the peace had been “de-arrested and taken home”.

None of the girls who were arrested is from King James’ School.

Police were called to the school at 3.10pm on Monday when a gang of girls from another school caused a disturbance.

Today’s update said investigations were continuing.

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Headteacher Carl Sugden (pictured above) wrote to parents after the incident saying the girls “came onto the school site with the clear intention of causing trouble”.

Mr Sugden added:

“Our staff were on hand to stop them, they did not gain access to the building, but unfortunately we needed some police support to remove them.

“There were a number of police vans on site at the end of school and this caused some disruption to the end of the day.

“I can assure you that none of our pupils were involved in this poor behaviour and these young people are not known to us.”

Police issue CCTV appeal to find man after Knaresborough assault

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for help to to identify a man captured on CCTV as part of an investigation into shoplifting and assault.

The force issued a statement this afternoon, which said:

“Officers would like to speak to him about a number of shop thefts in the Knaresborough area, including one at the One Stop shop on March 7 when a member of shop staff was also assaulted.

“They believe he may have information that could assist the investigation.”

Anyone who can help identify him is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, and pass information for incident number 12230042029.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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