‘Mr Goole’ admits to arson attack on massage parlour
FORMER TOWN COUNCILLOR FACES JAIL TIME
FORMER Goole town councillor Keith Moore has been warned that he could be jailed after he set fire to the door of a Hull massage parlour and stalked a woman who worked there.
His actions include following the woman, sending her messages and pouring diesel or oil into the door of the premises.
Moore, known as “Mr Goole” and also a former East Riding councillor, made threats of violence and made threatening telephone calls, Hull Crown Court heard.
Veteran ex-councillor Moore, 75, of Garth Lane, Hook, near Goole, admitted stalking the woman between May 12 and October 22 as well as arson on September 1.
Moore was a Labour member of Goole Town Council until recently, but he has since resigned.
The court heard that Moore put the woman in fear on more than one occasion that violence would be used against her.
Moore admitted by his guilty plea that he followed the woman and sent her text messages on May 31.
He poured diesel or oil into the door of the premises where she worked, on July 21.
Moore also sent a letter making threats of violence on July 23. He made threatening telephone calls on September 3 and left a message in a disguised voice on October 21.
The arson happened at Discretion Massage in Edgar Street, Hull, and the woman lives in Beverley.
Defence barrister Richard Thompson said that Moore had no previous convictions.
Judge Mark Bury said that stalking and arson offences were “serious” and that a prison sentence was likely.
The case was adjourned until January for a pre-sentence report.
Judge Bury told Moore: “You have pleaded guilty to serious offending.
“The likelihood is that, despite your guilty pleas and good character, you will have to serve a sentence of immediate imprisonment. These are serious offences.”
Moore was allowed bail until the next hearing, with conditions of residence at his home, not contacting the woman directly or indirectly, not going to the Edgar Street premises and not going to Beverley.
Moore was an East Riding councillor for Goole North until the 2019 elections, when Labour lost all its seats on the council.
He has been a prominent campaigner on health issues in the Goole area and was a board member on North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
He has also served on the Internal Drainage Board for Goole and was a full-time GMB union official before becoming a councillor.
He has been chairman of the Goole branch of the Labour Party, a member of Old Goole Industrial and Provident Society and a member of the Caravan Club.