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14
Nov
Man tells court he is ‘here to repent’ for theft at Harrogate supermarket
The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court today (November 14). We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included a theft and an assault of an emergency worker case. You can read reports on two cases below.
A man today pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol from Waitrose in Harrogate — and then told the court he was "here to repent".
Conal Hawes, of no fixed address, was charged with stealing four bottles of vodka valued at £125.50 from the Station Parade supermarket on October 26.
The 21-year-old, who told the court he had recently been ejected from a hostel on Bower Street, appeared without legal representation.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, said Hawes put the four bottles in a bag and left the supermarket but he was followed to the car park by security guards, who asked for the items back before police arrived and detained him.
The defendant was going to sell the alcohol to pay for food, Ms Ibbotson said.
Hawes breached the terms of a suspended sentence by committing the theft, the court heard.
The defendant told the court he came to Harrogate for a "fresh start" and suffers with post-traunatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and psychosis.
Hawes said: "I’m here to repent and apologise. I’m a strong man."
But he added he was a “loose cannon” and urged the lead magistrate to section him as part of his sentence.
Hawes was ordered to pay £56 in total. This included a £40 fine and a £16 court surcharge.
Harrogate man kicks police officer in groin
Carl Harper admitted assaulting an emergency worker after police officers were called to an address on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate to arrest him for an unrelated offence.
The court heard Harper, of Knaresborough Road, became agitated and abusive towards police.
When officers tried to take him to a police vehicle, Harper – who was barefoot at the time – told a named police officer to “f*** o**” and kicked them in the groin, prosecutor Ms Ibbotson said.
She told the court the officer was not injured but described the incident as “painful and unwarranted”.
The defence said Harper was “very remorseful” and told the court he struggles with bipolar, anxiety and depression.
The court heard:
On the morning of the incident, Mr Harper was not able to take his medication for his mental disorder. He had no intention of hurting the officer.
The defence told the court his mental conditions “played a big part in how this happened”.
The case was adjourned to prepare a pre-sentence report. Harper will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court for sentencing on December 20.
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