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02
Apr
Exclusive: Ex-Harrogate BID chief admits actual bodily harm
The former chief executive of Harrogate Business Improvement District has admitted assaulting a person outside a bar in the town centre.
Matthew Chapman, 41, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court this afternoon (April 2) when he pleaded guilty to one charge of causing actual bodily harm.
Prosecutor Alison Whiteley told the court the incident occurred at around 11pm on Friday, June 13 last year.
The named victim had been at work that day and decided to go out with colleagues. As he went straight from work, he took his laptop with him in a bag.
The court heard both the victim and Chapman were in Katie O’Brien’s, an Irish bar on The Ginnel, that night.
Katie O'Brien's in Harrogate
Ms Whiteley said the victim was dancing with his backpack on – inside of which was his laptop – and Chapman and an unnamed female were “joking and insulting him”.
The victim went outside with Chapman as he wanted to show him his laptop was inside the backpack.
However, Ms Whiteley told the magistrates, door staff at the bar refused to let Chapman back in.
Permanent scar
The victim was allowed to re-enter the bar and, as he did so, Chapman punched him twice, causing lacerations to his eyelid.
He has been left with a “permanent scar to his eyelid”, the court heard.
Matthew Chapman
Chapman, who wore a black suit and black tie in court, admitted the offence at the first opportunity and is of previous good character.
Jordan Okoko, defending, did not provide any mitigation and requested the case be immediately adjourned for a pre-sentence report.
The case was adjourned for the report to be prepared and Chapman, of Wilton Rise in York, will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court for sentence on June 11.
He was released on conditional bail until then.
Chapman was appointed manager of Harrogate BID in 2021. He helped to secure another five-year term for the organisation in 2023, before being named chief executive in 2024.
He resigned with immediate effect on June 17 last year, when the organisation issued a brief statement attributing the move to “personal reasons”.
Matthew Chapman leaving court
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