Police use evidence in rural crime crackdown

Evidence has emerged of offenders travelling from across the North of England to target isolated parts of the region in the hope of evading the law enforcement agencies. But North Yorkshire Police officers have claimed residents are collecting key intelligence to bring offenders before the courts.

The latest prosecution saw Dean Sidaway, 27, of Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, found guilty in his absence after failing to attend Northallerton Magistrates Court to answer charges of entering land at night as a trespasser with poaching equipment. He was fined £400, and ordered to pay £95 costs and a £40 surcharge. Sidaway was spotted by a Borderwatch patrol in the early hours of January 5 lamping in a field alongside the B6275 between Piercebridge and Barton, accompanied by two other men with lurcher dogs. The group then crossed into a neighbouring field and continued lamping before returning to a Land Rover Discovery which was parked nearby. They left the area before the police arrived, although Borderwatch volunteers noted down the vehicle’s registration plate and Sidaway was identified as the registered keeper. He admitted being in the area at the time of the offence, but denied lamping and would not name the people he was seen with. He was interviewed and the decision was taken to summons him to court.

PC John Wilbor, of Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This case is another great example of people in rural communities providing information which has led to a conviction. It also serves as a warning to people coming to Richmondshire to commit offences that even when they have left the area we will still coming looking for them and ensure that they are brought to justice.”

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