Claudia Lawrence investigation: Man arrested for bogus Facebook message

A man from Oxfordshire was arrested today (Wednesday 17 February 2010) for posting a bogus message on Facebook which claimed to be from missing York woman Claudia Lawrence.

The message appeared on the "Claudia Lawrence Investigation" Facebook page in November 2009.

It read: "Hi everyone just let you be aware that I am ok and I am safe and sound. Speak to you all soon. Claudia. xxx."

Following police enquiries, an 18-year-old man was traced to an address in Didcot, Oxfordshire this morning.

He was arrested and taken into custody for questioning where he admitted making a malicious communication and wasting police time. He was cautioned for both offences and released. The matter has now been dealt with.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, who is leading the investigation into the suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence, said: “The posting of this message on Facebook, claiming to be Claudia Lawrence, caused significant anxiety and distress to Claudia’s family and also diverted valuable police resources to pursue a line of enquiry that had no value.

“The arrest demonstrates our determination to pursue anybody that undertakes such malicious and irresponsible behaviour.

“The investigation into the suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence continues and will do so whilst there are positive lines of enquiry to pursue.”

Good response to York sex attack E-fit appeal

More than a dozen people have contacted North Yorkshire Police with information following an E-fit appeal relating to a serious sexual assault on an 18-year-old woman in the Acomb area of York that occurred between 6.50pm and 8pm on Saturday 20 February 2010.

Officers are following a number of new lines of enquiry as the effort continues to track down the suspect.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, who is leading the investigation, said: "So far the response we have had from the local community has been very positive and we greatly appreciate the continued support for the investigation.

"The E-fit image of the suspect is still very much an important part of our enquiries. Again, I urge anyone who possibly recognises a man matching the description to come forward as soon as possible."

Det Supt Raw is also appealing for anyone who was on the No.1 First Bus which left the City Centre at 6.45pm and stopped at the junction of Askham Lane and Ridgeway in Acomb at about 7pm. This is where the victim got off the bus and walked down Grange Lane before turning left, entering a field and along the path by the side of Westfield School.

She was approached from behind and attacked by the unknown man near to a mounded area.

Police patrols will continue in the area to ensure safety and reassure residents who are naturally concerned about the incident.

Det Supt Raw said: "I fully understand that people will be feeling wary following this very serious incident on Saturday evening. However, we have no reason to believe that this forms part of a series of crimes and we have deployed considerable resources to catch the man responsible.

"The reality is that York is a safe place to live with low levels of violent crime, including sexual assault.

"Nevertheless we advise people, particularly women, to take extra precautions by avoiding places where they may be vulnerable due to poor lighting or in isolated locations. If you need to walk in such locations, please make arrangements to be accompanied."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help the investigation should contact York police on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting the reference number 12100027797.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

York man wanted on prison recall

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for information to trace a York man who is wanted on prison recall.

Richard James Sampson, 29, was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent at York Crown Court on 7 June 2004 and was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.

He was released from prison on licence in November 2009, but this was revoked on 23 February 2010 after he breached a curfew condition of the licence.

Detailed police enquiries to locate and arrest Sampson have been ongoing since the licence was revoked.
The enquiries have focused in York and Hull where Sampson is also known to have friends.
Sampson is described as white, 6ft tall, short brown hair, with a long face, large nose and protruding ears. He usually wears a tracksuit and baseball cap.

While it is not believed Sampson poses a particular concern or danger to the public, people are advised not approach him regarding this matter.

Anyone with information that could help locate Sampson is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police immediately on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting the reference number 12100028842.

Information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Police step up search for York woman Mandy Bishop

Police enquiries remain ongoing to locate a York woman who has not been seen for almost two weeks.

Mandy Bishop, 34, of Bishopgate Street in the Skeldergate area of the city, was reported missing by a family friend at 1pm on Saturday 3 April 2010.

However it is believed that Mandy, who lives with her 66-year-old mum Valerie Bishop and their four dogs, may have been missing from home since Monday 22 March 2010.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, the senior investigating officer, said: “Our concern for Mandy’s safety is increasing day by day, particularly as she has not been seen by family or friends for almost two weeks now.

“We are doing everything we can to locate her including searches in the local area and house-to-house enquiries requesting any information that could assist the investigation.

“We have also issued a nation-wide appeal asking if any police forces around the country have come into contact with a woman matching Mandy’s description.

“If anyone in York has information that could assist the search for Mandy or have possibly seen her during the past two weeks, then please contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter of urgency.”

It has yet to be established what state of mind Mandy was in around the time she is believed to have gone missing.

However, Det Chief Insp Taylor explained that Mandy suffers from agoraphobia and has been virtually house-bound for the last 13 years.

She said: “For Mandy to actually leave the house in the first place is very much out of character. This is more so as she is the sole carer for her mum who is seriously ill with cancer, and she also looks after the family's four dogs.”

Mandy’s mum Valerie is struggling to cope since Mandy went missing. She is now staying with friends and is receiving support from a police family liaison officer while the efforts to find Mandy continue. It is asked that her privacy is respected during this difficult time.

Det Chief Insp Taylor explained that traces of blood were discovered inside the family home during the police examination of the property.

Tests are being carried out to determine if the blood relates to Mandy, or whether or not it has any significance to the missing person investigation.

"I do know that Mandy has threatened to self-harm in the past, so if the blood is her's then she may be in urgent need of medical attention," said Det Chief Insp Taylor.

Mandy is described white, 5ft tall, slim build with shoulder-length dark-brown hair. It is not known what Mandy was wearing at the time she disappeared.

She has a great interest in animals and may be attracted towards organisations such as the Dogs Trust.

If you can help the missing person enquiry please contact North Yorkshire Police on , quoting the reference number 12100051110.

£2m fraudsters jailed

A married couple who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud a York farmer out of £1m have today (28 April 2010) been sentenced to a total of 11½ years at Leeds Crown Court.

Dennis McGinley, 30, was sentenced to eight years and Bianca McGinley (nee Broadway), 24, was jailed for 3½ years. The pair who have no fixed address but are from the travelling community in the Taunton area of Somerset, targeted the farmer along with four other victims from Staffordshire and Avon & Somerset.

In total the conspiracy to defraud between 1 March 2006 and 18 March 2009 amounted to £1.9m.

The initial inquiry was launched by North Yorkshire Police in March 2009 when a complaint was made by the farmer who is based on the outskirts of York.

However, this developed into a joint investigation alongside colleagues from the Staffordshire and Avon & Somerset forces after further three cases came to light.

The couple were arrested on 18 March 2009 in Chelmsford and were transported to North Yorkshire for questioning. They were charged with conspiracy to defraud on Sunday 22 March.

As outlined in court, the McGinleys mainly targeted members of the farming and business community and relentlessly exploited the vulnerability of individuals who have become involved in business transactions with the travelling community.

An initial business deal was expanded through offers to arrange the return of money owed, until the victim was confronted by McGinley purporting to represent interests associated with a “three lettered organisation” from Northern Ireland.

Cash or bank transfers for the purchase of vehicles were demanded and the victims placed in such fear that, although they had lost many hundreds of thousands of pounds, they were reluctant to speak to the police even when visited with the evidence of the offences.

A father and son in a family business did not speak to each other of the problem, believing the family to be under direct threat if they spoke. During which time they parted with money and vehicles to a value of around £850,000.

In the course of this, two companies were stripped of their assets and closed. The victims travelled around the country making cash and banking payments at the behest of Dennis McGinley.

Detective Inspector Adam Harland, who led the North Yorkshire Police investigation, said: “When we were first confronted with the scale of these blackmails, it was hard for all those on the enquiry to understand how anyone could lose a million pounds and not make some effort to contact the police.

“However, the fear engendered in the victims by Dennis McGinley was so real that they handed over vast amounts of money, representing the benefit from a life's worth of work, rather than seek help.

“Each victim felt like an individual target, and the events had a profound effect on their health and sense of security. There may even have been a feeling that to reveal what had happened would make them appear foolish.

“By working in partnership, the three police forces were able to link together a pattern of evidence that transformed the separate accounts of individuals with incredible stories into overwhelming evidence of deliberate and ruthless exploitation of vulnerability through blackmail and deception by organised and professional criminals.”

“We also discovered that Dennis McGinley was found to have skipped court in Ireland for fraud offences, and was living an itinerant lifestyle using several names.


“Through prior planning and close association with the Fraud Prosecution Service based at York, arrangements had been made that eyewitness identification could be carried out across England while the offenders were in custody, and authority obtained to charge without recourse to bail.

“Much of the money stolen remains unrecovered, and enquires are ongoing in regard to the money laundering of this money and the confiscation of the assets and restoration to the victims.

“Each of the victims has indicated the misery of the position they found themselves in, and there is every likelihood that there are similar victims currently somewhere.

“In that is the case, I would most strongly urge them to realise that they do not have to face this sort of offender alone, and that contact with their local police - either directly or through another party - can and will bring this crime to an end.”

When sentencing the pair, His Honour Judge Grant said: “This was a carefully planned scheme ruthlessly carried out”. He also commended the investigation teams from all three forces involved, along with Essex Police who arrested the pair.

North Yorkshire Police is taking part in a national day of action targeting metal theft across the country.

During the past six months there has been a marked rise in the number of thefts with railways, utilities substations, businesses, houses and even road grids and manhole covers being targeted by criminals.

The day of action is on Wednesday 14 July 2010 and will run all day.

Police officers from Road Policing Groups in North Yorkshire and Durham police forces along with officers from the Environment Agency will target vehicles carrying waste as they leave North Yorkshire. The locations are at Barnard Castle, Winston bridge, Piercebridge, Blackwell bridge and Croft Bridge

The vehicles and occupants stopped by the police will be subjected to a series of checks by police officers and staff from the Environment Agency.

Dangerous driver given prison sentence

Traffic officers across North Yorkshire continue the campaign to reduce the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads with a successful conviction for dangerous driving.

Leon Patterson, from Barlby near Selby, was convicted of dangerous driving at York Crown Court on Thursday 15 July 2010. He was given a sentence of 18 months in prison and a three year driving ban.

The sentence follows a road traffic collision which occurred in Riccall, Selby on 21 May 2009 which involved a Subaru Impreza, driven by Patterson, and a BMW saloon car, driven by a local woman. Following the collision six people were taken to hospital.

The collision resulted in three of the passengers in Patterson’s vehicle receiving injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives. The injuries include, a man with a shattered pelvis and another with a severe brain injury, both men are in their twenties. The woman driving the BMW, who was aged in her mid-20’s at the time of the collision, received leg injuries that left her unemployed.

Traffic Sergeant Julian Pearson, of the force’s Roads Policing Group, said: “Throughout the investigation Mr Patterson has denied that his dangerous driving caused the collision and has shown no remorse towards his passengers.

“Officers across North Yorkshire and the City of York are committed in reducing collisions like this, especially amongst young male drivers.

“I am extremely pleased with the verdict and hope that the sentence sends a stark warning to young drivers that we will not tolerate dangerous driving on the roads in our county and we will pursue offenders through the courts.”

Community grass on drug dealers

Police in York are continuing their crackdown on drug dealers, with the latest raids at addresses in the Bootham area of the city.

The raids took place at 9am today (Friday 23 July) when three properties on Grosvenor Terrace were entered by a team of officers including firearms officers and a drugs dog.

Following the raids three men were arrested. They are a man aged 57, arrested for possession with intent to supply and the production of a controlled substance, a 44-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession and possession with intent to supply and a 30-year-old man for possession of a controlled substance.

The 30-year-old has been charged with possession and released on bail to appear at York Magistrates’ Court in August. The other two men currently remain in police custody.

Police officers took approximately 15 cannabis plants from the properties as well as a quantity of what is believed to cannabis already prepared for use and a quantity of drugs believed to be amphetamines.

Sergeant Martin Metcalfe, of the Clifton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The success of these is raids is due in no small part to the assistance we have received from the local community who have given us very useful information

“We will continue to work with the community in the area and tackle the main issues brought to our attention.

“We will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour and crime within our communities.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our partner agencies, the Safer York Partnership and especially the law abiding residents who continue to assist us and tell us about any issues they need resolving.”

Anyone who would like to report any criminal or anii-social behaviour activity should contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 60 60 24 7. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Man arrested following York drugs find

North Yorkshire Police are continuing the crack-down on the illegal production of drugs with the latest seizure of suspected cannabis plants and the arrest of a 45-year-old man in York on Thursday 5 August 2010.

The plants were discovered in a residential property on Fossway, in the city, when officers entered the premises following a number of reports that there was a strong smell of cannabis outside the flat. The smell had been reported on the evening of Wednesday 4 August and the flat was entered in the early hours of Thursday 5 August 2010. Officers removed 17 plants from the property.

The man, who in the flat at the time, was arrested on suspicion of producing a class B drug. He has been released on police bail.

Insp Ian Dyer, of York's Response Team, said: “We will deal with all reports of the illegal production of drugs robustly, taking swift action to ensure that they do not enter the supply chain.”

If anyone has any information about the illegal production of drugs they are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7. Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.