The man who ran the historic Castle Howard estate has been charged with child sex offences.

Simon Howard, 65, is due to appear before magistrates in Scarborough on 15 February to face two charges.

A statement issued on behalf of his family said he denies the charges, which date from 1984, in the "strongest possible terms".

Mr Howard managed the North Yorkshire estate from 1983 until 2015.

The family statement said Mr Howard had been charged with indecent assault and incitement to commit an act of gross indecency.

It continued: "Simon Howard's whole family are shocked by these allegations and are fully supportive of his confidence that he is innocent of all charges - which he denies in the strongest possible terms."

Castle Howard has featured in several television show including Brideshead Revisited and more recently the Netflix drama Bridgerton.

The company which runs the house and estate said Mr Howard was no longer a director or shareholder having stood down in 2015.

Serial sex offender Pawel Relowicz is convicted of killing the University of Hull student.

Carl Marrows, who had spina bifida, suffered "massive blood loss" after surgery, an inquest hears.

Sex offender Pawel Relowicz is convicted for the rape and murder of the University of Hull student.

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of raping a 12-year-old girl more than a decade ago in South Yorkshire.

Image source, NCA

The National Crime Agency (NCA) made the arrests as part of Operation Stovewood - the investigation into historic child sexual abuse in Rotherham.

The arrests relate to an allegation of rape from 2007.

Four men, aged between 28 and 31, were arrested in Rotherham on Wednesday 10 February.

A fifth man, 31, was arrested in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire on the same day

All five have been questioned and released on bail.

Philip Marshall, the NCA’s senior investigating officer for Operation Stovewood, said:

“The NCA now have more than 40 separate investigations as part of Operation Stovewood with more than 260 identified suspects.“We continue to encourage all victims to come forward and speak to us in confidence. We, and our partners, will work with them to ensure that appropriate support is in place and I hope these latest arrests send out the message that we will take these allegations extremely seriously."

The bodies of three dead foxes have been found in woods in Leeds, police say.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

The foxes were found in the Tinshill and Ireland Wood areas of the city, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The deaths are being investigated by Natural England who will provide the West Yorkshire force with an update, officers said.

Writing on social media the force said: "It's too early to speculate as to how the foxes died, but we'd like to remind the public it is an offence to deliberately poison wildlife, hunt foxes with dogs, and to shoot foxes without the permission of the land owners.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.

A warning has been issued to youths in a North Yorkshire town, following a spate of anti-social behaviour including street robberies and assaults, say police.

Image source, Google

Groups of youths in Ripon have been breaching Covid regulations by congregating in in the Market Square, the bus station, and Bondgate, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Insp Alex Langley said: "There has been a spike in anti-social behaviour, criminality, street robberies, assaults on the public and assaults on emergency workers in the town.

“We have made a number of arrests, recovered Class A and B drugs, seized criminal property including cash and also a number of imitation firearms and other weapons."

Insp Langley issued a direct plea to the groups of young people believed to be responsible.

He said: "If you commit anti-social behaviour and mindless acts of theft and criminal damage we will take every opportunity to investigate and prosecute you.

“As a young person you may not realise throwing a stone or stealing alcohol can result in a criminal record – and that a criminal record could prevent you accessing higher education and certain types of employment.

“Please stop and think about the consequences of your actions and how your decisions today could impact on your future.”

Before murdering Libby Squire, Pawel Relowicz terrorised young women with a string of sexual crimes.

Lewis Williams died after being shot in the face and neck in Mexborough last month.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The historic Ripon Spa Baths is to be put up for sale for a second time by Harrogate Borough Council, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Google

The council said the baths – which was the last of its kind to be opened in England – will go on the market for an undisclosed sum “in the coming months”.

The sale has sparked concerns among city councillors who say they want to see the 116-year-old Grade II listed building kept in use as a community facility and not converted into housing by developers.

Councillor Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council, said: “The site has been a community facility since 1905, it's the only spa to be opened by a member of the royal family and is Grade II listed.

"I would hate for all of that to only be available to certain people if it is converted into housing."

Ripon Spa Baths was opened by Princess Henry of Battenberg in 1905 and the swimming pool to the rear of the original building was added in the 1930s.

According to reports at the time, the site was put up for sale in 2008 with a £3.3m price tag but was later taken off the market after a community campaign.

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said: “Ripon Spa Baths has served the community well over the years and is now being replaced by a modern, state-of-the-art pool at Ripon Leisure Centre.

“The future sale, and redevelopment of the listed building, would allow this local asset to be redeveloped (subject to planning approval) and remain as a city landmark.”

Zephaniah McLeod has denied murdering Jacob Billington but admits his manslaughter.

Drugs, cash and guns have been seized and three people arrested on suspicion of a plotting to supply Class A drugs, after raids on properties near Bradford, say police.

Image source, PA Media

A 38-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and Proceeds of Crime offences, following the search of a property on Broadstone Way in Holme Wood, police said.

A 19-year-old male from an address on Bierley House Avenue was arrested on the same offences, officers added.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "A substantial amount of cash was seized, as well as Class A drugs. Some air rifles and a BB gun were also seized, along with a 4x4 car."

Sgt Kerry Feathers, said: “Yesterday we conducted a number of search warrants. As a result, we were able to remove drugs and weapons from the streets of Bradford.

“This reaffirms our commitment to the communities to tackle serious and organised crime and make Bradford safer.”

Two brothers who stabbed a man to death in a Leeds street have each been jailed for at least 22 years.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Keith Harrower, 40, also known as Joshua French, died after the attack outside the Premier supermarket in Beeston, in December 2019

Omar Ishaq, 34, and Kearon Barker, 32, planned the attack to send a message on behalf of a drugs gang, Leeds Crown Court heard. Both were found guilty of murder on Wednesday.

Judge Andrew Stubbs, sentencing, said the pair had armed themselves with a knife and gone to meet Mr Harrower on Dewsbury Road.

The court heard one had distracted Mr Harrower while the other carried out the attack, stabbing him in the neck.

Addressing the brothers as he handed down life sentences, the judge said: "You had taken pains not to be seen together, with Ishaq hiding in a shop doorway before the meeting

"CCTV showed chilling and compelling evidence of the brothers, with Ishaq striking the fatal blow to the carotid artery and bouncing back like a boxer". Mr Harrower died within an hour of being stabbed, the judge told the court.

Det Ch Insp Emma Winfield, of West Yorkshire Police said: "There can be never be any justification for those who seek to settle their differences with extreme violence such as this."

Plans to cover up a 1960s university mural have been scrapped following a raft of objections.

Image source, LDRS

The University of Bradford had intended to cover the artwork by Joseph Mayo with cladding to improve energy efficiency at its Richmond Building.

However, 37 objections were submitted, including one from Mayo's son, urging the university to reconsider.

The university has now put forward amended plans which ensure the mural will remain a permanent feature.

The mural was designed and built by architect and artist Joseph Mayo in 1964, with colours designed to reflect Bradford's history of fabrics and dyes.

In his written objection to the council, the artist's son Dr Paul Mayo said: "The mosaic represents an era of industrial design and manufacture.

"Whatever the reasons for the proposed cladding another method should be considered before an attractive public art object is lost to this area."

Other objections to the plan were lodged by the 20th Century Society, Bradford Civic Society and members of the public, one of whom described it as a "needless piece of cultural vandalism".

Sheffield's director of public health has issued a warning to people to be alert for scams related to Covid-19.

Greg Fell says fraudsters are contacting people claiming they can offer vaccines in return for cash.

Mr Fell issued the warning after he received a text asking for his bank details so he could book a jab.

He says: "Vaccinations are free - you will never ever be asked for your bank details to book a vaccination.

"So if you get a text, or are contacted by anybody asking for your bank details to book a vaccination, just delete the text immediately, because it's a scam."

Mr Fell has also warned eradicating coronavirus is going to be a long-term challenge.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Zero Covid is something we all want but achieving it is really going to be very difficult.

"Think how hard it has been to eradicate polio where we've had an effective vaccination for the past 40 years. We still haven't achieved zero polio status."

All northbound lanes of the M1 at Wakefield are expected to be closed until late this afternoon, following a "serious accident" which resulted in a large diesel spillage from a lorry, external, according to Highways England.

Image source, Highways England

Traffic is currently tailing back from the incident at junction 41 A650 (Carrgate) to junction 40 (Ossett/ Wakefield), according to the agency.

Work is ongoing to treat the spillage.

The road is expected to return to normal between 15:45 and 16:00., external

Several people whose homes have been damaged share their struggles to find emotional support.

Pritti Mistry
BBC News

The jury deliberating in the trial of a man accused of raping and murdering a University of Hull student have been told they can reach majority verdicts.

Image source, Squire Family

Libby Squire, 21, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, disappeared in the early hours of 1 February 2019 after she was refused entry to a Hull nightclub.

Her body was spotted in the Humber Estuary, between Spurn Point and Grimsby, nearly seven weeks later.

Polish-born Pawel Relowicz, 26, denies raping and killing the philosophy student before dumping her body in a river.

At Sheffield Crown Court, Judge Mrs Justice Lambert told the jury of seven women and five men that she would accept majority verdicts of either 10-2 or 11-1 before sending them out again this morning for a sixth day of deliberations.

Image source, Facebook

Icicles are being removed from a three-mile long railway tunnel in West Yorkshire to allow train services to keep running.

Image source, Network Rail

Ice hanging from the entrance and roof of the Standedge tunnel near Huddersfield is being removed by "ice teams" to avoid damage to passing trains and disruption to services, according to Network Rail.

Chris Gee, from Network Rail’s North and East route, said: “Work to remove the ice from Standedge Tunnel is vital so passengers who need to make essential journeys can travel on this key route, which connects West Yorkshire and Manchester.

“Winter is always challenging and I’m proud of our teams who work tirelessly in all weathers to monitor the railway, maintain the tracks and make sure trains can run safely.

"They’re out day and night in freezing conditions".

A sheep was pinned to the ground in an attack by a dog in North Yorkshire, police say.

Image source, Google

In the attack just before 08:00 on Tuesday, a dog walking with a woman on a public footpath on New Road in Drax, ran into a field of sheep and pinned one to the ground, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The woman walking the dog then dragged it out of the field and when challenged by a farm worker, returned to her car and drove off, police said.

The woman is described as white, with short dark hair and wearing a waist-length navy jacket. The dog is thought to have been a medium-sized black dog, similar to a labrador.

The sheep was injured in the attack, and required treatment, officers said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.