Rachael Grealish

Bradford man Richard Pooley, 60, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison after police found more than 87,000 indecent images and videos of children on his devices, including material recorded with hidden cameras. He was convicted of multiple offences involving child abuse material, voyeurism and non-consensual recording, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. West Yorkshire Police described the case as among the worst encountered by the investigating officer and emphasized that each image represented a victim.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has announced the death of Brooke, a 16-year-old northern cheetah who was peacefully euthanised after his health naturally declined. One of the world's oldest northern cheetahs, Brooke fathered two litters through the European Breeding Programme, including six cubs, and helped raise awareness and funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. His sons Kendi and Tafari have moved to Chester Zoo, while the park paid tribute to Brooke's lasting conservation legacy.

Yorkshire pupils celebrated receiving their GCSE results and preparing for further education, training or employment. The article highlights students at several schools, including Conyers School pupil James Auger, who achieved eleven grade 9s. Regional figures showed that North East England had the lowest share of entries awarded grade 7 or above, at 17.7%, although the proportion achieving grade 4 or above rose from 64.9% to 65.2%. Schools North East director Chris Zarraga said results day should focus on young people's potential and hard work rather than where they live.

Photographs show Baitings Reservoir near Ripponden in West Yorkshire at exceptionally low levels, exposing cracked reservoir bed, an old packhorse bridge, debris and areas where people can walk. The decline follows months of hot, dry weather and the driest spring in 132 years. Yorkshire was placed under drought status by the Environment Agency, with reservoirs at 64.6% capacity compared with the usual 80–85%, and Yorkshire Water introduced a hosepipe ban.

Adam's Building Construction Ltd was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £4,263 in costs after building a Bradford extension over gas pipework and leaving a boiler flue discharging inside the new structure. The company had been repeatedly warned by building control inspectors but failed to correct the dangers or comply with an HSE Improvement Notice. Director Mohammed Adam Azhar was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a £400 surcharge for failing to provide information to investigators. Northern Gas Networks deemed the installation immediately dangerous and disconnected the property's gas supply, while the family spent about £4,000 on remedial work.

Stephen Grimmer, a 62-year-old man from Sheffield, was found dead inside a property on George Street in Worsborough Bridge, Barnsley, after being reported missing. His family described him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother with a “heart of gold,” and recalled his family holidays, ties to Gibraltar and army service in the Duke of Wellington Regiment. Andrew Fowler, 62, from Barnsley, has been charged with Grimmer’s murder and is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court.

A 55-year-old man died after being bitten by a German Shepherd during an altercation on a footpath off Blacker Lane in Wakefield. West Yorkshire Police arrested another 55-year-old man on suspicion of murder and of being the owner of a dangerously out-of-control dog causing injury. Detectives have been granted additional time to question him, while the dog has been seized. Two people who assisted the victim have been identified and spoken to, and police are continuing to seek further witnesses and information while supporting the victim’s family.

A 60-year-old Barnsley man, Andrew Fowler, has been charged with murder after a man reported missing from Sheffield was found dead inside a property on George Street in Worsborough Bridge, Barnsley. Police discovered the body on August 14 and said the victim's family is receiving specialist support. Fowler was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Barnsley Magistrates' Court. South Yorkshire Police also made a standard self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the victim had previously been reported missing.

Andrew Mearns, a former director of Knaresborough-based Gmund Cars Limited, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to 14 counts of fraud. Between 2017 and 2019, he sold customers’ Porsche vehicles on commission but kept the proceeds instead of paying the owners. North Yorkshire Police investigated the reports over several years, and victims are continuing civil proceedings to recover their vehicles and money.

A 55-year-old man died after being bitten by a dog during an altercation on a footpath off Blacker Lane in Wakefield. Police arrested another 55-year-old man on suspicion of murder and of owning a dangerously out-of-control dog that caused injury. The dog was seized, and officers are seeking witnesses, including two women who assisted the injured man, one identified as Sophie.

Daniel Augustus, 40, of Roundway, has been charged with attempting to murder a 54-year-old woman who was seriously injured at a house in Honley on August 13. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, while the woman remains in hospital in a stable condition.

West Yorkshire Police has renewed its appeal for information about the 2005 arson attack in Shipley that killed 36-year-old James Tomlin from smoke inhalation. Tomlin’s pregnant fiancée and two sons were rescued, but he died in the blaze. Detective Inspector Steve King said investigators remain committed to identifying those responsible and urged anyone with information, including people who may have learned more over the intervening years, to contact police or Crimestoppers. The case remains open and new evidence can be examined using modern forensic technology.

Hull’s last remaining sidewinder trawler, the Arctic Corsair, has completed its final journey and is now permanently dry-berthed at North End Shipyard. Following restoration by Dunston Ship Repairs, work will focus on installing walkways and bridges linking the vessel to the visitor centre before it opens to the public as part of the Hull Maritime project.

Yorkshire Wartime Weekend brought military history to life near Doncaster through re-enactors, period camps, uniforms, equipment, historic vehicles and replica aircraft. The three-day event, held across more than 30 acres, showcased First and Second World War, post-war and wider 20th-century military history.

A 78-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a Toyota Prius in an Aldi car park on Halifax Road in Brighouse. The 46-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and remains in police custody. West Yorkshire Police are investigating and seeking witnesses or dashcam footage.

Luke Belbin, 25, was found guilty of manslaughter and possessing an offensive weapon after fatally stabbing 20-year-old Kyrell Fleary-Gayle during a fight on Greenwood Street in Huddersfield on January 20, 2026. Cameron Boylan was convicted of assisting Belbin’s escape and impeding his apprehension or prosecution. Both men are due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on September 17. Police described the case as another tragic consequence of knife crime.

Convicted child sex trafficker Sharam Muhamadi was extradited from Switzerland to the UK after fleeing during his trial and being located through an international manhunt. A jury convicted him in absentia on two counts of arranging or facilitating travel for exploitation, and he was remanded in custody after appearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court. He is due to return to the court on September 3.

Sarmad Khawaja, 42, of Huddersfield, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of attempted murder for an unprovoked stabbing on Alder Street on 7 August 2025. The victim suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. Police said the sentence reflected the brutality of the attack and hoped it would provide the victim with comfort and closure.

Graham Stephenson, 55, of Hull, was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court to 18 years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences against four boys. The abuse began when victims were as young as six and continued over several years, involving manipulation, money and control. Police also found more than 500 illegal images on devices seized from his home. Stephenson received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, while Humberside Police praised the four survivors for coming forward and giving evidence.

Stephen Lee Ward was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of murdering 27-year-old Macaulay Branighan in Stockton in October 2025. Samuel Tweddle was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years. Branighan was chased and struck with a machete, suffering fatal injuries. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Taylor said neither defendant had shown remorse, while Branighan’s family described the lasting impact of his death and witnesses were praised for helping secure the convictions.