By Nathan Findlay –
Thursday, May 6th,2021 | Youth Due in Court After Machete Incident
A youth is due to appear in court today (May 6th) charged in connection with an incident in Leeds involving machetes, in which two other youths were seriously injured.
The 16-year-old male, who cannot be named due to their age has being charged with two counts of section 18 wounding with intent, two counts of threatening a person with a bladed article and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
The charges relate to an incident on Tuesday evening in a ginnel that runs between York Road and Rookwood Avenue.
There were two males injured in this incident. One of these being 15 years old and the other being 17. They are still currently receiving treatment in a hospital and remain under arrest on suspicion of affray in relation to the incident.
The 15-year-old male has received a fractured skull and a wound to his leg and the 17-year-old male has received a wound to his wrist. The injuries that they have received are not life-threatening.
Thursday, May 6th,2021 | Kirklees Man Jailed for Sexually Assaulting Women and Children
A man in Kirklees has been sentenced to more than 49 years for decades of sexual offending against women and children.
Leslie Terrence Housecroft (73) from north Kirklees was jailed at Leeds Crown Court today (Thursday, May 6th) after being found guilty of 14 different sexual offences, including rape, against two women and three children in the Kirklees district since 1993 and 2016.
Out of the 49 ½ years imposed, 26 of them are consecutive terms to be served in prison with a further 23 ½ years which will then run concurrently alongside the 26-year custodial period.
He has been branded as a serial sexual predator by Kirklees safeguarding detectives who welcomed his sentencing.
The 73-year-old was convicted by a jury following a two-week trial at Leeds Crown Court in March.
He was found guilty of:
- Six offences of raping a child.
- Two indecent assaults on a child
- A sexual assault on a child
- An offence of rape against a woman
- Four sexual assaults against a woman
Acting Detective Sergeant Yvonne Brear of the Kirklees District Safeguarding Unit, who led the investigation, said:
“Leslie Housecroft is, without doubt, a dangerous serial sexual predator who committed some of the most serious sexual offences against victims over a three-decade period.
Friday, May 7th ,2021 | Taking action to Tackle Street Drinking in Castleford
The Castleford Neighbourhood Policing Team is taking action to tackle this increasing rate of street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
A new ‘police room’ has been established at Castleford market to help the policing team to be more visible and accessible.
A Public Space Protection Order is in place in the town centre and the neighbourhood policing team is working with the local authorities and local businesses to ensure that everyone is working together to tackle this growing problem in Castleford.
Police Sergeant Karl Miller, of the Castleford Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“We want the town centre to be an enjoyable place for all and know that street drinking and other anti-social behaviour can really blight people’s perceptions and experience of the town.
“A Public Space Protection Order has now been in place for a few years and was extended at the end of last year. It gives us and local authority colleagues additional powers to tackle illegal drug use and street drinking.”
“We hope those living and working in the town centre are reassured by the action that we are taking and would urge anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour to report it to the appropriate authority.”
Monday, May 10th,2021 | More than 20 knives seized as Part of National Operation to Target Knife Crime
Over 20 knives have been seized by West-Yorkshire police last week as part of a national operation to target knife crime.
The force took part in operation sceptre, which focused on prevention, education, and enforcement.
Across the county officers carried out a total of 26 weapon sweeps, finding several knives and other weapons concealed in different public areas.
Officers also visited schools to educate and inform young people about the risks of carrying knives. A set of test purchase operations took place to see if retailers would sell knives to people who were under the legal age limit. Thankfully, all the retailers which were tested in this operation did not let the sale of the items go through without an ID.
Chief Inspector James Kitchen, who leads on West Yorkshire’s own violence and knife crime Operation Jemlock said;
“Through Operation Jemlock we are making a real difference in the communities of West Yorkshire.
Operation Sceptre brought a nationwide focus to what we do every week to keep people safe.
“Enforcement work such as weapons sweeps is important. I am pleased that we removed a number of knives from West Yorkshire’s streets. These are potentially deadly weapons that can no longer be used to harm others.
“We targeted our operational work in key areas, carrying out weapons sweeps in parks and open spaces to make them safer.
Of equal importance, however, was the educational work that took place. If young people know and understand the dangers of carrying a knife or associating with people who do, then we can help to make a difference.
“I was particularly pleased to see that not a single retailer sold a knife to our underage test purchasers.”