The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court today (Thursday, August 14).

We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of drink-driving, assaulting emergency workers and use of threatening words or behaviour.

You can read reports on three cases below. 

Tamsin Robertshaw, of Oakdale Rise in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to one offence of drink-driving and one offence of assaulting an emergency worker in the execution of their duty.

Azmeena Soni, prosecuting, told the court police received a call from a member of the public just after 5pm on July 28, raising concerns about a potential drink-driver in the Harrogate area.

The force conducted targeted patrols of the area, before going to the home address of the car’s registered owner.

The car was parked outside a property on Oakdale Rise and was unoccupied when officers arrived.

The court heard Robertshaw was standing in the doorway of the property at the time.

The defendant told police her name was Sarah and denied driving the car that afternoon. She then threw her keys on the floor, insisting she was not the driver in question.

Ms Soni said Robertshaw, 43, did not provide a roadside breath test and was arrested. However, the defendant tried to go back into her house at the time, so police officers put handcuffs on one of her wrists to stop her.

A named police officer held Robertshaw’s free arm, but the defendant “grabbed the police officer by her right arm, squeezing and pushing” her arm.

Robertshaw was taken to Harrogate Police Station, where she provided a reading of 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35 micrograms.

Sean Wilson, defending, told the court Robertshaw “accepts she had two large glasses of wine and then drove” that day. 

The court heard the defendant suffered a medical incident some weeks before the offence and experienced more symptoms that day.

“She chose to drive home to get there as quickly as possible”, Mr Wilson said.

Robertshaw accepts she had driven under the influence of alcohol and assaulted a police officer, and understood she was “difficult” with police on the day, the court heard.

The defendant has suffered from multiple sclerosis for 27 years and usually takes medication for it, Mr Wilson said. However, due to the recent medical episode in the lead-up to the offence, she was taken off the medication.

The officer was not injured as a result of the incident, the defence added.

The magistrates banned Robertshaw from driving for 38 months, which would be reduced by 38 weeks if she completes a drink-driving awareness course by a set date.

She was also ordered to pay a £140 fine, a £56 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. 

Man fined for using abusive language

Jamie Garrett, of Bower Street in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to one offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Azmeena Soni told the court police were called to an incident on Bower Street at around 7.40pm on July 28.

Garrett had been involved in an altercation outside Harrogate Homeless Project’s Bower Street hostel at the time and was being “loud and aggressive” when police arrived.

Shouting at someone inside the property, the 29-year-old defendant used a homophobic slur and obscene language.

The court heard Garrett was “swinging his arms around” and “trying to get back inside the hostel”, and police had to take him to the ground due to his “loud and obstructive” behaviour.

Garrett, who was not legally represented in court, agreed with the prosecution’s case but said he “could not really remember” the incident.

“I was heavily intoxicated”, he added.

Garrett did not disclose the nature of his relationship with alcohol but told the magistrates he is “doing really well” with his drinking and had been "attending meetings".

He said he has had “a lot to deal with over the last few months” and is waiting for an ADHD diagnosis.

Garrett was fined a total of £197, comprising an £80 fine, a £32 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. 

Drink-driver handed lengthy driving ban

Calum Robinson, of Albert Place in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Azmeena Soni, prosecuting, told the court police travelling towards Ripon on July 27 were driving behind a vehicle on Harrogate Road, which was driving at speed.

The car also "swayed over the lane" at a set of traffic lights.

The driver, Robinson, turned in at Morrisons on Harrogate Road in Ripon and was stopped by police.

The court heard officers told Robinson, 36, they needed to do a roadside breath test due to his manner of driving, but he said he “had a cigarette” shortly before they stopped him.

Eventually, a roadside breath test was carried out and Robinson was arrested.

At Harrogate Police Station, he provided a reading of 45 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, Ms Soni said.

Robinson was also convicted of drink-driving in 2022.

The defendant, who was not legally represented in court, said he agreed with the prosecution’s case, but does not believe he was driving at speed.

Robinson told the magistrates he was driving to collect his girlfriend at the time, but admitted he “should not have got in the car”.

“My mate even told me it’s probably not worth [getting behind the wheel] when I spoke to him on the phone”, he added.

The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Robinson: “clearly, you should’ve taken the advice on the phone”.

He was banned from driving for 38 months, which would be reduced by 38 weeks if Robinson completes a drink-driving awareness course by a set date.

Robinson was also ordered to pay a £438 fine, a £175 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.