Burglar who targeted Alness Drive house is jailed

A prolific offender who burgled houses and went on a spending spree with stolen bankcards has been jailed for over six years.

Andrew Minskip, 37, appeared in the dock this week accused of breaking into a house in Alness Drive, York on 29 August 2019.

Just before discovering the burglary, the homeowners were alerted by their bank that there had been a number of fraudulent transactions on their bankcard during the day.

Minskip was later identified by police officers on CCTV using the stolen bankcard in local newsagents.

He was tracked by a police dog the following week in the vicinity of a second burglary at the Buckles Inn on the A64 and arrested.

Following an investigation, Minskip was charged with the burglaries on Alness Drive and at the Buckles Inn, in addition to three others at houses on Lycett Road, in Skiddaw and Strensall Park.

He was also charged with two thefts, two counts of fraud and one count of driving with no insurance – all committed between 10 August 2019 and 7 September 2019.

Another man, 39 year-old Richard Sampson, was also caught after officers recognised him on CCTV using the bankcard from the Alness Drive burglary on a separate occasion, and was charged with two burglaries and two counts of fraud.

On Wednesday 15 January, at York Crown Court, Minskip, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty and was jailed for six years and three months. He was also ordered to pay a victims surcharge of £181.

Sampson, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the two frauds and was jailed for seven months.

Commenting on the sentences, Investigating officer DC Kyle Boad of North Yorkshire Police’s Expedite team said:
“Minskip burgled his victims’ homes, helping himself to their personal possessions and bank cards before fraudulently using them to go on a spending spree around York. It was only a matter of time until we located and arrested him.
“Whilst no-one was hurt in this case, the trauma of knowing someone has broken into your home can’t be underestimated – the impact of burglary is devastating and long lasting for victims.
“Neither MInskip nor Sampson showed any remorse for their actions and denied all involvement in their crimes throughout the investigation. I hope that this outcome will provide some comfort to their victims in the knowledge that they are both behind bars where they belong.
What to do if you have been burgled

Ring 999 if you believe the offender is still in your house or has just run away; if not use the 101 number. You will be given a crime number to quote in an insurance claim, or if you want to contact police with any follow-up queries.

Try to preserve the crime scene for any forensic evidence that may be of use to the police. If possible, do not touch anything or allow your children or pets into the same rooms that the burglar has been in.

For more advice visit northyorkshire.police.uk/homesecurity

39 year-old Richard Sampson has been jailed for seven months

What’s on in York: A city wide programme of events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in York

York will host multiple events throughout the city to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Holocaust Memorial Day is remembered each year on 27 January, when Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated in 1945.
York’s official programme for ‘Stand Together’ has now been published and is available online at www.york.gov.uk/HolocaustMemorialDay.

The city-wide programme explores how genocide throughout history has fractured societies by marginalising certain groups, and how these tactics can be challenged by individuals standing together with their neighbours, to speak out against oppression.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend a number of talks, tailored events, community projects and commemorations taking place in various venues throughout York.

On Thursday 23 January, York Minster will host the powerful 600 Candles event, a candle lit ceremony of commemoration and reflection from 6:15pm till 7:30pm.

This will be followed by the annual Civic event, which will be held on Monday 27 January at Temple Hall, York St John University, hosted by the Lord Mayor of York and Civic Party.

The diverse programme of events also includes a Time for Reflection at St Martin’s Church, on Holocaust Memorial Day and Clifford’s Tower Commemoration, on Thursday 16 March, to honour the 1190 massacre of York’s Jewish population; in addition to several events throughout January at the University of York and York St John University.

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day and national events, visit: www.hmd.org.uk

Local rugby team gets home fixture in Cup

YORK Acorn have been drawn at home to Barrow Island in round two of the Coral Challenge Cup.

The tie will be played at the Thanet Road ground.

Acorn beat Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the first round.

National Conference League premier division side Acorn will take on a Barrow outfit who finished fifth in division two last year on the weekend of January 25-26.

What’s on in York: Launch of Carole Bromley’s pamphlet, ‘Sodium 136’

York Explore

Thursday January 16th

6:15 pm – 7:45 pm

Free

Book tickets »

Three great readers for the price of one. Better still, it’s free! Join us for the launch of Carole Bromley’s new Calder Valley Press pamphlet, Sodium 136. Carole will be joined by Emma Storr and Stuart Pickford.

Carole Bromley is well known on the York poetry scene. She has three full length collections with Smith/Doorstop and her new pamphlet, from Calder Valley Press, concerns her recent experience of brain surgery.

‘This is not just a record of physical suffering – it is a powerful and profoundly intelligent exploration of grief, gratitude, fear, love, and joy. Poetry at its best’ (Clare Shaw)

‘These are remarkable, extraordinary poems’ (Peter Sansom)

Stuart Pickford is a keen runner and will be reading about his hobby. His latest book is Swimming with Jellyfish from smith/doorstop.

Emma Storr’s background is medical. She lives in Leeds and is a member of the Leeds Writers Circle and the Wharfedale Poets. Her work has appeared in the Hippocrates Anthologies 2016 and 2018 and Strix magazine. Her debut pamphlet Heart Murmur was published in May 2019 by Calder Valley Poetry. It features poems based on her experience working as a GP and explores the workings of the body and mind in varied and humorous ways.

Admission is free, but booking is strongly advised as we expect this event to be very popular.

Some strange Council responses to problems

Some reports of highway defects are being knocked back with “no further action required” responses this year.

One of the deficiencies of the Councils “report it on line” system is that no reason for inaction is given. There was a time when a pothole might go unfilled because it didn’t meet what were styled “the Councils intervention level”. Basically they weren’t judged to be deep enough.

Eventually frost damage would, of course, ensure that it did become bad enough to justify filling.

But there are some very uneven roads which are, perversely, being judged as safe these days

Morrell Court access road potholes which are not judged to require attention

Council officials are also reluctant to send warning letters to drivers who have damaged verges, even when it is obvious who is responsible,

Verges need hard-surfacing to prevent damage

One piece of better news, with local Councillors reporting that work on finishing drainage work on the Osprey Close footpath will recommence shortly. The footpath may be diverted around the worst of the mud with further repairs to the land drains taking place when the area dries out.