The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (March 7).

We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of assault and affray. 

We also sat through a full day of hearings on Thursday, March 7, which included a case of criminal damage. 

You can read reports on three cases below. 

Charles Sherwood appeared in court charged with two offences.

Mr Sherwood, of Runnymede Way in Northallerton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by beating.

Court documents allege Mr Sherwood, 36, assaulted two named people at Rudding Holiday Park, in Harrogate, on August 18 last year.

Mr Sherwood will return to court for trial on April 24. 

Men charged with affray at Harrogate bar

Two men appeared in court charged with affray.

27-year-old Billy Swindells, of Byland Place in Harrogate, denied the charge.

Mr Swindells requested the case be heard at a crown court. 

Callum Forster, 23, of Queenswood Gardens in Leeds, gave no indication of plea.

His case was also transferred to the crown court.

Court documents allege the men used or threatened unlawful violence towards another at MOJO on Parliament Street on September 16, 2023.

Their cases were heard separately at Harrogate Magistrates Court but both men will appear at York Crown Court on April 7. 

Harrogate man admits criminal damage

Jamie Lofthouse, of Kennion Court in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Lofthouse’s case was heard on Thursday, March 6.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court a named man is the landlord of a property on Harrogate’s Mount Parade, which has multiple occupants.

On January 30, 2024, Lofthouse and another male visited the property just after 7pm.

The court heard they “kicked the Yale lock” and gained entry to the building.

Ms Ibbotson said the landlord was able to identify both men through CCTV.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court it is “not right” that the case had taken over a year to come to court.

Mr Tinning said Lofthouse and the other male were visiting a friend who lived at the property. The friend had told the men the front door was “a problem” and "required force" to open. 

The 28-year-old defendant accepts the damage caused to the door, the court heard. 

Lofthouse was given a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay a £26 surcharge to the court.