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23
Feb
Pannal man admits assaulting colleagues in workplace feud
A Harrogate man violently assaulted two colleagues when he "saw red" after a build-up of workplace tension.
Richard Yates, 59, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (February 19), when he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been working at a Follifoot-based company around the time the offence occurred on January 30 this year.
There had been a number of problems between Yates and his colleagues – including the two named victims – during his time at the company, and he was under investigation for his work practices at the time.
The court heard one of the victims, Mr S, was at work that day and in the office at around 1pm.
When Mr S turned around, he found Yates “standing right in front of him”.
“This took [Mr S] aback as he believed the defendant no longer worked at the company”, Ms Tyrer said.
Yates told the victim: “You’re not laughing now, you little c***”, before headbutting him and causing him to fall back on a table.
Mr S felt dazed after the assault, the court heard.
The second victim, Mr N, rushed into the office to intervene.
However, Ms Tyrer said Yates verbally abused the men and threatened them with violence.
At one point, he told one of the victims:
I’m going to murder you, I’m going to kill you, I’m going to rape you.
Enjoy the job you are doing because you won’t be doing it anymore.
People tried to calm Yates down, but he turned his attention on Mr N.
The defendant lunged at Mr N, the court heard, before grabbing him by the throat and pushing him back.
“[Mr N] did not suffer permanent injuries but he was shocked”, Ms Tyrer said.
Mr S suffered a “lump on his head and a headache for some days” as a result of the incident.
Defendant claimed victim laughed at him
Police arrived and Yates, of Princess Royal Way in Pannal, was arrested.
During interview, Yates told officers he went to work the day before assault, when he saw Mr S sitting in his vehicle and “smirking” at him.
“He felt this was unnecessary due to previous problems”, Ms Tyrer said.
Yates told police he went to collect his belongings from the office on January 30, when he claimed Mr S smirked at him again.
The court heard:
He told officers he ‘saw red’. That was when he headbutted [Mr S].
The defendant said [Mr N] came in to diffuse the situation but claimed he put his arms on him, so the defendant him pushed him away. The defendant said [Mr N] fell over but he had not meant for him to fall.
The defendant denied making threats to kill.
Defendant reached ‘boiling point’
Andrew Tinning, defending, said there was a “bit of history” to the offence.
Yates knew there were problems within the workplace at the time. He believed he was doing well in his role, but “other people took a different view”.
Mr Tinning said Yates “reached boiling point” after discovering his colleagues had put a camera in his office without his consent.
Yates “believed he was running the warehouse well and this came as a shock”, the court heard, so he went to the office to confront the men.
However, when he arrived, the victim was “laughing at him”.
Mr Tinning said:
The following day, he was told by the managing director he was being let go. Mr Yates didn’t expect the victim to be there as they don’t work for that part of the company, but he lost his temper.
He says it was not a deliberate headbutt, but a coming together of heads – but it was a headbutt.
‘He is the author of his own misfortune’
The case had been stood down for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, which was read to the court by probation officer Kirsty Fowler.
Ms Fowler said the defendant came to court with a folder full of background to this case.
“A lot has gone on”, she added.
The court heard:
It does appear to have arisen after the employer put a camera in his office without his consent and it’s caused him to react the way he did.
He says he’s very annoyed at himself and he's aware of how could have he dealt with it. The defendant tells me he is remorseful, but that he is still quite upset about how it came about.
Ms Fowler told the magistrates Yates is “not in a good place [mentally] at the moment” and takes medication for his mental health.
Ahead of sentencing, Mr Tinning said:
He is nearly 60 and it’s been 30 years since he was in trouble, so this does seem to be out of character.
He is the author of his own misfortune, but I hope you will have some degree of sympathy in terms of how he has got here.
Yates was ordered to pay a total of £453 for the offence, comprising a £120 fine, £100 in compensation to each victim, a £48 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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