Summary

  • Police officer and farrier will not be charged over Hillsborough conduct

  • Man hurt in early morning 'substance' attack in Halifax

  • Scathing report on Sheffield-Rotherham tram-train pilot

  • Yorkshire devolution deal 'could be done' - MP

  • Man jailed for 16 years for child sexual offences

  • HS2 redundancy pay 'shocking waste' of taxpayer cash

  • UK must tackle loneliness - Jo Cox Commission report

  • Updates on Friday 15 December 2017

  1. Watford 1-4 Huddersfield Townpublished at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2017

    Huddersfield record their first away win in eight Premier League matches as they beat Watford at Vicarage Road, as both sides end with 10 men.

    Read More
  2. Our five top stories todaypublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    That's all from us for today, we'll be back on Monday from 06:30 with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel for Yorkshire.

    Here are some of our top stories from today:

    1. Police officer and farrier will not be charged over Hillsborough conduct
    2. Early morning 'substance' attack in Halifax
    3. Man jailed for 16 years for child sexual offences
    4. Thousands of mini pork pies destroyed in factory fire
    5. Have you spotted Santa on the bus?

    See you tomorrow.

  3. Sheffield librarian receives national honourpublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    One of Sheffield City Council’s librarians has won a national award in the BookTrust’s 25th anniversary awards.

    Anne Frost Left with Bookstart CoordinatorImage source, Sheffield City Council

    Early years librarian Anne Frost has been given the Bookstart Coordinator Award for her work to encourage families to read with very young children, especially in deprived areas.

    She's worked for the council’s library service for the past 30 years and drives the Little Library van to visit services and families with children under five-years-old.

    This ranges from visits to nurseries and playgroups to hearing-impaired units as well as visits to homeless families, looked-after children and newly-arrived refugees and asylum seekers.

  4. Five locked up after security vans targetedpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Five people have been locked up for their parts in a plot to rob security vans carrying cash.

    Humza Ali, Mohammed Shah, Tariq Aziz, Nisha NadeemImage source, West Yorkshire Police

    The five had planned to carry out a series of robberies on the vans in Bradford and Leeds by using one of the members' knowledge of when and where the cash collections would take place.

    Those jailed were:

    • Nisha Nadeem, 21 of Woodhall Park Cresent in Pudsey was given two years
    • Tariq Aziz, 20 of Leeds Road in Bradford was given seven years and nine months
    • Humza Ali of Sunnybank Avenue was given seven years and seven months
    • Mohammed Shah 19 of no fixed abode was given six years
    • A 17-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was given five years four months detention.
    Quote Message

    The weapons seized in this investigation prove they were prepared to use whatever means necessary to get what they wanted."

    Det Ch Ins Andrew Howard, West Yorkshire Police

    Nadeem, who was working as an assistant at the Tesco Express store in Stanningley had passed on information to Aziz about when the vans visited stores in Bradford and Leeds.

    Security vans had been targeted by thieves in May this year, in one case, more than £11,000 in cash was taken.

  5. Teenage boy commended for chasing muggerspublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A Rotherham teenager who has been given a police commendation for helping to arrest three thieves.

    Martin Putnoky, 17, was walking in All Saints’ Square in Rotherham town centre on 9 November when he saw three men confront another man and steal his bag.

    Martin alerted the police, chased and stopped the offenders, which led to their arrest.

    The student then came to the aid of the 52-year-old victim and gave him back his stolen property.

    Neighbourhood and Partnerships Chief Inspector Paul Ferguson and Martin PutnokyImage source, SYP
  6. Diamond wedding couple receive letter from The Queenpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A couple from South Yorkshire have received a letter from The Queen as they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

    then and nowImage source, Jill Dixon

    Robert and Ina Currie from Barnsley met at a dance in 1956, married a year later and moved to South Yorkshire in 1969.

    Letter from the queenImage source, Jill Dixon

    Their daughter Jill said they were "were shocked and stunned to receive the card" and that her mum Ina, 76, "adores" the royals and the letter made her day.

    They have three daughters, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

    Congratulations Robert and Ina!

  7. Your comments: Prosecutions for fly tipping in declinepublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Yesterday we told you that the number of people being prosecuted for fly-tipping in West Yorkshire is at a record low, despite the number of reported cases having risen over the past five years.

    Fly tipping

    You've been telling us what you think about the situation:

    Small wonder that fly tipping is such a problem with councils making it so difficult to tip legitimately.

    I have had to register both of my cars online with Kirklees in order to enter the council tip.

    So if you're not registered take it somewhere else?

    Dreadful situation caused by local councils !

    Richard

    Let us know what you think.

  8. West Yorkshire MP claims homelessness has trebledpublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A West Yorkshire MP says that homelessness has trebled in his constituency in the last year.

    Barry SheermanImage source, Labour Party

    Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds this afternoon, Barry Sheerman - the Labour MP for Huddersfield - said more houses needed to be built on brownfield sites.

    The MP said the resources to help homeless people should be in place - but said using money earmarked for foreign aid wasn't the way to fund this.

    He said that - as a country - we should help people both abroad and at home.

  9. Timely advice: In the Advent of a firepublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    North Yorkshire's Fire Service appear to have come up with a novel twist on the advent calender.

    They're tweeting fire safety tips each day in the run up to Christmas:

    FireImage source, North Yorkshire Fire Service
  10. Elderly woman dies after car park accident in Doncasterpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    An elderly woman who was injured in a vehicle accident in Doncaster, earlier this month has died in hospital.

    At around noon on Monday, 4 December, a white Ford Transit tipper-style truck hit a pedestrian on Station Road, Dunscroft, in a supermarket car park.

    The pedestrian, a 92-year-old Doncaster woman, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

    She died today. Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision, as well as anyone who may hold dashcam footage.

  11. Man admits murdering Halifax mother Jessica Kingpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A man has admitted murdering a mother-of-two who was found dead at a house in Halifax.

    Bradford Crown CourtImage source, Phil Champion/Geograph

    Jordan Thackray, 27, of East Grange View, had denied killing Jessica King, 23, in August and was due to stand trial.

    His barrister, Paul Greaney QC told Bradford Crown Court he now wished to enter a guilty plea.

    Thackray is due to be sentenced on 19 January pending mental health reports. He was remanded in custody.

  12. South Yorkshire Police tackle rogue off-road bikerspublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A dedicated police team tackling off-road bikers across Sheffield is starting to make progress.

    Seized bikesImage source, SYP

    Since August a specially-trained team of officers using off-road motorbikes has been deployed to hot-spots:

    The force said 64 riders have been stopped and issued with formal written warnings for riding motorcycles in an anti-social manner

    Officers seized 17 motorbikes after they were being ridden in an anti-social manner

  13. Chippendale treasures to go on displaypublished at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    The Leeds Museum exhibition will feature work by the craftsman which has never been on public display.

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  14. Have you spotted Santa on the bus?published at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    York's bus drivers have a new staff uniform just for today.

    Staff at First are dressed as Santa in red overalls and a white fluffy beard.

    They're doing it to raise money for Saint Leonard's Hospice, donation boxes are on every bus.

    Santa driving First busImage source, Lisa
  15. Sign of the times for station babypublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Kate Linderholm
    BBC Local Live, Sheffield

    A mum who gave birth seven years ago in Cusworth Police Station in Doncaster on the way to the hospital has been given the station sign.

    Lynn, Harmony and AlecImage source, SYP

    On Monday 8 September 2008 Lynn Gillespie, expectant mum set off for the hospital to have her third child.

    Their daughter decided she wanted to make an entrance into the world in a place to remember, and her parents were forced to pull into Cusworth Police station.

    Harmony was delivered 10 minutes later with the help of crime scene investigation officers Hayley Henderson and Elaine Barnes.

    To celebrate and mark this the Gillespie family have now been presented with the sign to the former Cusworth Police Station to remind them of the extraordinary day.

  16. 'She nearly died': Grandad who gave granddaughter winepublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    One in six parents in Britain allow their children to drink alcohol at the age of 14, according to a new study.

    It's causing concern because official medical advice is that children shouldn't drink alcohol at that age.

    This man from Harrogate says after he gave his seven-year-old granddaughter some wine, she almost died:

  17. Devolution divide stops South Yorkshire employment pilotpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Kevin Larkin
    Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

    Divides over devolution in South Yorkshire are responsible for halting a £5m project to help the long-term unemployed back into work.

    A letter from the Department of Work and Pensions states they want to “pause” the funding after Barnsley and Doncaster councils stated they no longer support the South Yorkshire devolution agreement.

    Composite image of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Town HallsImage source, Geograph/JThomas/DavidPickersgill/PA

    The Sheffield City Region says it is “disappointed” the pilot has been paused.

    The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed the funding has been suspended to allow the councils “to resolve outstanding issues”.

    It added discussions are continuing so “work on the pilot can continue as soon as possible.”

  18. West Yorkshire Playhouse £14m upgrade approvedpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A £14m transformation of the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds has been given planning consent.

    West Yorkshire PlayhouseImage source, Leeds City Council

    The theatre plans to build a new entrance, improve access, upgrade technical equipment and create a new studio space.

    An Arts Council grant will cover £6.6m of the costs, with £4.4m from Leeds City Council and the rest from the venue's own funds.

    It is hoped the work will be completed by 2019.

  19. Arrests after 42 cannabis plants seized in Harrogatepublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    Two men have been arrested and 42 cannabis plants seized from a property in Harrogate.

    Cannabis

    Police say the plants were found in a first floor bedroom at a house on Regent Terrace.

    Officers can’t confirm the potential street value of the plants at this time, but it's believed to be in the thousands of pounds.

    A 36-year-old man from Harrogate was arrested on suspicion of cannabis production, while a 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

    Both men have been released while under investigation.

  20. Pie factory fire: 'Just a few minutes' production lost'published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2017

    A pie factory in North Yorkshire is fully operational again after a fire in the early hours of this morning which destroyed thousands of mini pork pies, the man in charge of production there has confirmed.

    Pie

    Mark Gatenby says the Vale of Mowbray factory in Leeming Bar was "evacuated as a precaution", but the fire was safely put out "very quickly" by staff.

    Mr Gatenby says: "At this time of year, the factory produces 700,000 pies a day and so the couple of thousand we lost is just a few minutes' production."