Three missing girls from Harrogate have been found safe.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that two 13-year-old and a 16-year-old girl were found in Leeds and returned to their families.

The girls were last seen at 5pm on Thursday (August 10).

One of the 13-year-old girls was found on Friday and the other two were returned to their families yesterday.

A police statement said:

“Protecting vulnerable people is of paramount importance to North Yorkshire Police.”

Read more:

• Harrogate and Knaresborough MP supports housing asylum seekers on barge
• Hot Seat: The man luring shoppers to Harrogate

Police have confirmed a man who went missing from a hospital in Harrogate has been found.

The man was reported missing from the hospital on Ripon Road on the morning of Wednesday, August 9.

He was last seen walking towards Parliament Street.

In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said it was thought he may have been in West Yorkshire or heading towards the Burnley area.

Officers urged the public to dial 999 immediately if they saw the man and not to make any contact or approach him.

However, on Wednesday evening, they confirmed he had been located safe and well, and thanked everyone who had shared the appeal.

Read more:

• Knaresborough man jailed for dangerous driving after high-speed police chase
• Police seek help over spate of vandalism on cars in Ripon

A woman who went missing from her care home in Harrogate last summer was found two weeks later just metres away from a police search area, an inquest heard today.

Judith Holliday was 73 when she left her care home in Harrogate on the morning of Saturday, August 27.

Her body was found two weeks later, on Saturday, September 10, along the railway embankment at Weeton.

At an inquest held in Northallerton this morning, coroner Jonathan Heath heard a post-mortem was unable to ascertain a cause of death. However, the pathologist who carried it out said it was likely she died from hypothermia not long after she was last seen.

The inquest heard the alarm was raised after Ms Holliday, who had a condition affecting her brain after suffering two haemorrhages since 2015, left Harcourt Gardens around 10.30am on Saturday, August 27.

She said she was going to visit her niece, who lived nearby, but she never arrived, and police were contacted later that day. Mr Heath said:

“The reason that she left and signed herself out will, regretfully, never be known.”

The inquest heard a member of staff at Harrogate Bus Station saw an appeal for information and quickly passed CCTV footage of Judith passing by to North Yorkshire Police.

Further footage of her on Station Parade was then found, but the trail went cold after that.

Ms Holliday was seen on CCTV along Station Parade

Over the following days, as the appeal for information reached more people, a number of sightings of Judith were reported in North Rigton.

She had flagged down a car in south Harrogate around 2.40pm and the occupants had given her a lift to the village. The front-seat passenger, who was named in court, said Ms Holliday told them she was going to meet her friend, but later that she was going to visit her grandparents.

In a report read out during the inquest, the passenger said:

“She seemed very calm, quiet and composed when she got into the car.”

The occupants dropped her at the Square and Compass pub, where a waitress also reported seeing her at about 3.30pm.

Ms Holliday was reported to have walked through the pub and back out of the door, staying around two minutes. The waitress did not see which way she went after leaving.

Read more:

• Police use drone in search for missing Harrogate woman Judith
• Inquest opens for Harrogate woman who went missing for two weeks

The new information moved the police search to centre around the pub. Over the following days, the search expanded, following paths and routes away from the village and stretching down as far as the A658, which runs adjacent to the railway line south of the village.

During the inquest, Ms Holliday’s family said they were grateful for everyone’s help in the search, but asked why it had not extended further, to include the railway line.

PC Dan Preston, a specialist search advisor, said research showed that physical barriers in the land often stop people who are missing and unsure where they are. He said the road was 500m from the pub where she was last seen, adding:

“We have to draw a line and unfortunately that’s the line we draw at that point. I can’t offer you more than that, unfortunately.

“We got so close because of all the statistics we have… I understand you want the answers. It’s frustrating, because we were so close.

“I don’t think it would have changed the outcome, unfortunately.”

Meanwhile, a woman who saw the appeals for information to trace Ms Holliday made a report to police in the week following her disappearance.

She said she had seen a woman on the embankment adjacent to the railway near North Rigton around 6.20pm on the Saturday, as she travelled on the train from Kings Cross to Harrogate. In a statement read out at the inquest, the passenger said:

“I guessed she must be picking blackberries, though I did think it was strange she was in that location.”

However, officers who had been involved in organising the search told the hearing they had not been passed the details of that reported sighting.

The Dunckeswick Lane level crossing. Photo: Roger Templeman/Geograph

On Saturday, September 10, another passenger on a train between Harrogate and Leeds called police to report seeing what they believed was a body in the undergrowth.

Officers arrived and found Ms Holliday’s body around 200m west of the level crossing at Dunkeswick Lane.

She had moved into Harcourt Gardens in early June, where the inquest heard she had settled well. Mr Heath added:

“She had a loving and supportive family and, regretfully, in the latter part of her life she had had some health issues that meant that, effectively, she couldn’t live on her own.

“It would appear from what I’ve read that that was a good move for her, in that she quickly settled, she found friends and her communication skills improved.”

Mr Heath delivered a narrative conclusion, used when there is no clear evidence of a single cause of death.

He said the cause of Ms Holliday’s death was unascertained, but that it was confirmed when she was found by the railway line at Weeton on September 10, after she went missing on August 27.

Police have found two teenage girls reported missing from home in Harrogate last night.

An urgent search was launched for the pair on Thursday night.

Police called on the public to look out for the pair, who were believed to be missing together and also have links to Boroughbridge.

Police requested that any possible sightings were reported immediately by calling 999, quoting reference NYP-06072023-0603 for Leah and NYP-06072023-0601 for Grace.

Read more:

• Appeal for missing man seen in Harrogate
• Police say new drugs gang causing wave of violence in Harrogate

A Harrogate woman has been found safe after going missing for four days.

North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal for the 56-year-old female on Friday last week. It said she had not been seen since the previous day and officers were “extremely concerned for her welfare”.

This morning the police said the woman had been found safe yesterday.

We have consequently updated our coverage to remove the woman’s personal details.

Read more:

• Police sack Harrogate officer convicted of sexual assault
• Crime commissioner Zoe Metcalfe under pressure following critical report

Police have said a teenage girl who went missing from the Pateley Bridge area has been found safe and well.

North Yorkshire Police said yesterday the girl had been missing since 9.30pm on Saturday.

Officers issued a description of her and asked for help locating her.

They said last night she had been found. We have therefore updated this article too remove her personal details.

Searches continue for two men who have been missing in the Harrogate district since last year.

Gavin Dhont, Ripon, and Jesus Moreno, Leeds, have both not been seen since late 2022.

Officers at both North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police have reissued appeals for any sightings of both men.

Mr Moreno, who worked at a Leeds brewery, has been missing for five months after last being seen in August 2022.

The brewer was spotted on CCTV catching a 36 bus from Leeds bus station at 6.10am on Monday, August 1.

He got off the bus at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge on the A61, at 6.39am. He was then seen on CCTV near the bridge at 8.14am.

Posters were put up in Harrogate looking for missing man Jesus Moreno.

However, searches of the area carried out by West Yorkshire Police have not resulted in any findings.

A force spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that Mr Moreno’s case remains “the subject of a high risk missing person investigation”.

They added:

“Officers from Leeds CID are continuing to support the family and give them a detailed overview of their enquiries so far.”

Anyone with information can call West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference 13220422334.

Ripon man missing for more than a month

North Yorkshire Police has reiterated an appeal for any information on Gavin Dhont, who has been missing from Ripon for more than a month.

Mr Dhont was last seen in the city on Tuesday, December 6 and officers said they are extremely worried for his welfare.

Police have carried out searches for the 45-year-old, including the use of police dogs and the police drone, but with no gain.

Read more:

• Appeal for missing Leeds man who may be in Harrogate
• People urged to ‘be vigilant’ for Ripon man missing for two weeks

He is known to enjoys walks in areas including the Hell Wath, Studley Roger, Studley Royal Park and along the River Ure. He also enjoys visiting Ripon Wetlands.

North Yorkshire Police Inspector, Ed Rogerson, said:

“We’re really grateful to everyone who has been in touch to support our search and we’re asking the public once again to please keep your eyes peeled for any sightings. Every piece of information reported to us is really valuable so do get in touch by calling 101 if you can help.

“We know Gavin enjoys walking in the local area so if you are out and about, please keep Gavin in mind. Thank you.”

Mr Dhont is described as of thin build with short dark brown hair.

Anyone who has seen him since he went missing or who believes they know his whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter of urgency on 101, or call 999 in an emergency and quote either his name or reference 12220219012.

A missing Knaresborough man has been found after a police appeal.

The 68-year-old was last seen on Tuesday (November 22) leaving his home.

North Yorkshire Police described him as of slim build, 5 ft 6, with long grey hair which is balding on top.

A police statement issued this morning confirmed he was found following the appeal.

Read more:

• ‘Harrogate firefighters being used as guinea pigs’, says union
• Harrogate man jailed for spitting on pensioner at train station

A missing cat has been reunited with its owner after somehow making its way all the way to Harrogate from Lancashire.

The mog, called Bea, was found frightened by the side of a busy road in the town centre.

A couple took her to Harrogate New Park Vets4Pets to check if she was microchipped.

Vet Fernando Smit Cordeiro was locking up the practice and rushing to go to a fitness class when Bea arrived.

Her scanned her and was relieved to find the crucial microchip, so he was able to track down the pet’s owner.

He said:

“I picked up the phone and called. After the courtesy greetings I asked, ‘is Bea missing?’ And the gentleman replied, ‘yes’!

“Bea’s dad was relieved and surprised that she was found almost two hours drive away from home”.

Read more:

• Harrogate family reunited with missing cat after five years
• Harrogate Cat Rescue’s urgent appeal to save Pedro the kitten

The owners drove over from Lancashire later that evening to collect their pet. They suspected Bea snuck into a delivery van and hitchhiked her way to Harrogate.

Mr Cordeiro added:

“It’s always wonderful to reunite stray or lost pets with their worried parents.”

The vet urged cat owners to get their cat microchipped if they haven’t already. It’s currently not compulsory but the law is set to change soon.

Under the new plans, all cat owners must ensure their pet is microchipped before they reach 20 weeks. Owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted or may face a fine of up to £500.

Police searching for missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday have found a body near the railway at North Rigton.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, the 73-year-old’s family have been informed and are being supported.

Due to the location of the body, British Transport Police is leading the investigation and will establish circumstances surrounding the death.

Rail and road closures have been in place following the report, which was made just after 12.20pm today.

Police say one lane of the A658 at North Rigton has now reopened, however officers remain at the scene.

Ms Holliday left her care home on Harcourt Road in Harrogate at 10.32am two weeks ago today on Saturday, August 27. She was then captured on CCTV at Harrogate bus station and later in Library Gardens at 10.43am.

Read more:

• ‘Help us get Judith home’; plea from family of missing Harrogate woman
• Police use drone in search for missing Harrogate woman Judith

It is believed she then caught a bus out of Harrogate and then flagged down a member of the public and asked for a lift to North Rigton, where the last confirmed sighting took place.

Police used a drone to search for Ms Holliday in large open areas around North Rigton and Lindley Wood Reservoir.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret last week, her niece Lucinda Edwards appealed for her safe return and praised the response of the community.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We thank everyone who has supported the missing person inquiry.

“Our thoughts are with Judith’s family.”