Teenager pleads not guilty to murder of Seb Mitchell in Harrogate

A 16-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty after being charged with the murder of Seb Mitchell in Harrogate.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied the charge at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court this morning.

It follows an incident on Claro Road in the early hours of Sunday, February 19, where Seb Mitchell, 17, was found at a property on the street with injuries.

He died at Leeds General Infirmary two days later. He would have turned 18 on February 28.

The 16-year-old is due to reappear before Leeds Crown Court on July 7 this year.

Read more:

 

Inquest opens into death of Seb Mitchell in Harrogate

The inquest of a young Harrogate man who died after an incident on Claro Road was opened this morning.

Sebastian Henry Mitchell, known as Seb, was found with injuries at a property in the early hours of Sunday, February 19.

The inquest, held in Northallerton, heard he had been taken to Harrogate District Hospital for emergency treatment, before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for cardiac surgery.

Mr Mitchell, who would have turned 18 on February 28, died aged 17 on Tuesday, February 21 at LGI.

Opening the inquest, North Yorkshire coroner Jon Heath said the provisional cause of death was a stab wound to the chest, causing a loss of blood and oxygen to the brain.

Mr Heath adjourned the inquest to a date yet to be fixed, while further investigations are carried out and reports are prepared.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear in court next week in relation to the incident. The teenager was initially remanded into youth custody at York Magistrates Court, is expected to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

Read more:

 

Harrogate Grammar School pays tribute to Seb Mitchell

Harrogate Grammar School has paid tribute to a pupil who died this past week.

Seb Mitchell, 17, died following an incident on Claro Road on February 19. He died in hospital two days later.

Paying tribute to Seb, Harrogate Grammar School said it was “impossible to find the right words”.

It linked to a GoFundMe page set up for Seb’s family and urged people to donate.

The school said in a post on its social media:

“Sometimes it is impossible to find the right words. Please donate, if you can, to support Seb’s family to raise funds for a memorial.

“Something to remember and never forget a special young man who loved his family & friends so very much. He will be missed.”

Read more:

The fundraiser has so far raised £13,975.

The page, which has been set up by Sam Mitchell, said:

Donations will go towards a memorial for us all to remember him by. Any additional funds raised will be donated to a relevant charity (or charities) to be chosen by the family.
We would like to thank you all for all of the kind words and messages we have received and are receiving.

North Yorkshire Police has launched a murder inquiry following Seb’s death.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was initially charged with attempted murder on February 20. He is due to appear in court on March 14.

Murder investigation declared after Harrogate teenager dies

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.”

Read more:

 

Teenager charged with attempted murder on Claro Road

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.”

Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 1223001009.

Read more:

 

Boy, 16, arrested for attempted murder in Harrogate

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an incident in Harrogate early this morning.

Police were called to a home on Claro Road at 12.15am after a man in his teens received what officers have described as “significant injuries”.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this evening added the man was taken to hospital by paramedics and continues to receive treatment.

The statement added his family are being supported by specially trained officers and urged people to respect their privacy.

The boy was arrested  at 12.25pm and remains in police custody.

Claro Road

There was a heightened police presence in the area around Claro Road today.

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.”

Read more:

The police statement added:

“We know many people may wish to comment on this incident, especially on social media, we do ask speculation is avoided as not only can this be detrimental to the investigation but can also cause upset to the family and friends of the victim at this deeply upsetting time.”

Police urged anyone with information to call 101 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference 1223001009.

Harrogate district people with disabilities urged to have their say on housing tomorrow

People with disabilities in the Harrogate district have been invited to attend a debate tomorrow night about accessible housing.

Harrogate-based charity Disability Action Yorkshire has assembled a panel of four experts for the event, which will take place at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate at 5pm.

Titled ‘Accessible Housing for Everyone in North Yorkshire’, the event gives disabled people the chance to have their say and influence decisions on assisted living.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, said:

“The aim of the evening is for disabled people to tell us, and more importantly our panellists, about their housing needs.

“Our hope is that their comments will help influence future assisted living decisions made by the new North Yorkshire Council, which in turn will deliver benefits to those disabled people looking to live in their own homes.”

The panel includes:

Disability Action Yorkshire chair, Neil Revely, will head the panel.

New 36-bed home

This year, Disability Action Yorkshire, in partnership with Highstone Housing Association, was granted approval by Harrogate Borough Council to replace its 20-bed care home on Claro Road, Harrogate with a new 36-bed care home.

The £7.5 million complex will also include a base for Disability Action Yorkshire staff, who will be on site 24-hours a day.

Read more:

Ms Snape said:

“Our assisted living scheme, which will be completed by this time next year, is one of the most significant developments in our 85-year history. It fulfils one of our key ambitions, to give disabled people the independence they crave.

“Whilst our panellists have a wealth of expertise in this area, we believe it’s vital that they hear from the district’s disabled community. These are the people who more often than not need some form of assistance to live independently, and we need to ensure these needs are properly met.”

If you would like to participate in the debate, contact Jackie Snape via email or telephone at: 01423855410.

The breaking ground ceremony at Claro Road with, from left to right, Disability Action Yorkshire chair Neil Revely, The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate Cllr Victoria Oldham, Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, and Highstone Housing Association executive director Joanne Hawley.

Harrogate roads set for three weeks of resurfacing work

Four Harrogate roads are set to undergo three weeks of resurfacing work which will see road closures and temporary traffic lights in place.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department will carry out the work on Claro Road, Ainsty Road, Devonshire Place and Coach Road from Sunday, July 24.

As part of the work, the roads will be closed or have two-way traffic lights in place.

Resurfacing will be carried out on the following dates and locations:

Ainsty Road will undergo patching work on Friday, July 29 under a road closure from 7.30am to 11.30pm, but access will be maintained for residents.

Read more:

Advance warning signs will be installed at all locations and a signed diversion route will be in place.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said: 

“We are working hard to improve the condition of North Yorkshire’s roads, with an extensive programme of works across the county to improve the condition of our vast network.

“The maintenance works on these key Harrogate roads are the latest in our efforts, and I know they will be very much welcome.”

Council approves parking plans for Claro Road depot

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to demolish buildings at its Claro Road depot to make way for more parking.

The depot is used to store and sort recycling, and the proposals include 47 staff parking spaces with ten electric charging points, 36 spaces for council vans and the same amount for bin lorries.

Six storage and workshop buildings will be demolished to create room for a “more efficient and safe” site layout with a new one-way system.

The plans were approved at a meeting of the council’s planning committee yesterday, when Cllr Pat Marsh questioned what will happen to the depot when the council is replaced by the new North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.

Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, responded to say he was “hopeful” that the site will be used in its current form in the future.

He said: 

“We will still need a waste transfer station somewhere in the Harrogate district even though we do empty residual waste at Allerton Park.

“Recycling is taken to Claro Road first and then decanted into wagons to be taken wherever it is recycled and turned back into other products.

“Hopefully the site will have a future going forward.”

Read more:

 

Plan to demolish Harrogate council depot buildings for car parking

A plan to demolish buildings on a Harrogate Borough Council depot to make way for car parking space looks set to be approved.

The borough council plan would see six buildings on the Claro Road depot site flattened in order to create space for bin lorries and other council vehicles to park.

As part of the plan, 10 electric vehicle charging points would also be implemented in an effort to encourage the use of electric and hybrid cars.

A total of 47 car park spaces would be created, along with 36 for council vans and 36 for bin lorries. 

Read more:

The council also plans to build a new toilet and shower block on the site.

Officials at the authority have recommended that the plan is approved a planning committee meeting on Thursday, April 21.

A council report due before councillors next week says that the proposal would have a “positive impact” on the local area.

It says:

“The proposed development will have a positive impact on the character of the area and will have no significant impact highway safety, or residential amenity.”

Council officials added that the introduction of electric vehicle charging points would help to improve the “sustainability of the site and help reduce greenhouse gases”.