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02
May
Man assaulted teen who refused to pay his bus fare to Ripon
A teenager was assaulted by a stranger after refusing to pay for the man’s bus fare to Ripon.
Jordan O’Hara, 26, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (April 30) when he admitted three offences: one count of assault by beating, one count of obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of his duty and one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Prosecutor Anthony Farrell told the court the incident happened on February 13 this year, when O’Hara approached two teenagers at Harrogate Bus Station on Station Parade and asked them for money.
Neither teenager knew O’Hara and they declined to give him any money.
However, the court heard, it was then the defendant grabbed one of the teenagers by the neck and “squeezed”.
Police were called to the bus station area, where they found a very intoxicated O’Hara.
Mr Farrell said police handcuffed the defendant at the scene, but he “tensed up and put his weight against the officers”, which stopped them from being able to move.
O’Hara, of Maple Drive in Selby, was eventually taken to the police van, but he fell unconscious and an ambulance was called.
He was transported to Harrogate District Hospital, where he continued to be abusive towards a named police officer, so much so a nurse and doctor told him to “be quiet”.
The defendant gave no comment during his police interview.
The court heard the teenage victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been left “mentally scarred” by the assault.
Defendant was ‘extremely drunk’
Andrew Vickers, defending, suggested the case be stood down for a pre-sentence report.
He told the magistrates O’Hara had admitted the offence and “accepts everything” heard in court.
“Mr O’Hara was extremely drunk”, Mr Vickers said.
The defendant was travelling to Ripon to see his partner that day, the court heard, but he “couldn’t find anyone to pay for his bus to Ripon”.
Mr Vickers added:
He was so drunk he was asking anyone nearby.
Mr Vickers also said the victim did not sustain any injuries and did not require medical treatment.
The case was stood down temporarily, before a probation officer gave an oral pre-sentence report to the court.
Kirsty Fowler said the defendant had been drinking in Leeds that day and consumed between five and six pints.
“He said he’d been out as he’d received some bad news … this was a way of dealing with that”, Ms Fowler said.
She added:
The defendant tells me he went to the bus stop and can’t recall exactly what happened, which is due to a mix of alcohol and distress. He can’t remember it but he admits he was violent towards [victim] at the bus station.
O’Hara told the probation service he “feels terrible” about the assault.
The court heard O’Hara, who works long hours as a roofer, previously struggled with his mental health, but he has since “got it under control”.
He claimed he isn’t dependent on alcohol, but Ms Fowler said there are “issues there that need addressing”.
Before sentencing, Mr Vickers said O’Hara would fully cooperate with any sentence imposed.
He doesn’t dispute any of the facts you heard, and he is genuinely very sorry for what he did. If he could turn the clock back, he would. This offence only happened because he had a drink.
The magistrates handed O’Hara a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation days and a six-month alcohol treatment programme.
He was also ordered to pay a total of £1,049 to the court. This comprises a £550 fine, a £114 surcharge, £300 compensation to the victim and £85 in prosecution costs.
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