Schools warns girls to beware canal

A girls’ school in Skipton has warned pupils to stay away from the town’s canal to avoid confrontations with a man facing court for using threatening language.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Oct 2011, 07:00 BST

In an email to parents, the deputy head teacher of Skipton Girls’ High School, Steve Haycocks, wrote that the man was on bail and alleged he had “assaulted students... on a couple of occasions”.

He added: “Your daughter should avoid this area if at all possible. If this is not possible, she should walk with a group and report any incident to the police immediately.”

North Yorkshire Police confirmed officers spoke to a 47-year-old man and a group of local youths in Skipton on September 28 following allegations that “the man was abusing passers-by”.

No-one was charged and there was “no suggestion” that the man had physically assaulted anyone, the force added.

The man is due in court later this month charged with unrelated offences of resisting a police officer and using threatening language.