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11
Aug
Knaresborough man admits assaulting family members
A Knaresborough man has admitted to assaulting two family members.
Thomas Peacock, of St Margaret’s Gardens, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (August 8).
Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court neither victim supported the prosecution's case, nor did they provide the Crown Prosecution Service with a statement.
The court heard police were called to a property in Knaresborough on December 23 last year.
When officers arrived, they found both victims “sobbing and in distress”.
Ms Whiteley said Peacock, 33, went to the property after arguing with someone. In a drunken state, he proceeded to "push, shove and grab" the two victims.
The male victim tried to restrain Peacock, the court heard, but Peacock continued to assault them.
The female victim described Peacock as “a really nice lad when he is not drunk”, Ms Whiteley said.
She reiterated the victims “did not want to bring this to court”, but added they “had no option but to call the police” at the time of the assault.
‘He is very remorseful about this’
Andrew Tinning, defending, also told the magistrates the victims “made it clear they did not want a prosecution brought”.
He said Peacock is an engineer graduate and is well-thought-of by his employer.
The defendant says he is not dependent on alcohol but finds it hard to stop drinking once he has started, and has referred himself to North Yorkshire Horizons - North Yorkshire Council's drug and alcohol recovery service - since the incident.
“He is very remorseful about this and has been quite upset”, Mr Tinning said, adding Peacock struggles with his mental health.
The court heard the assault followed an incident in Peacock’s personal life, which the defendant struggled to cope with and found very upsetting.
Mr Tinning added:
Alcohol led him to act the way he did. Mr Peacock cannot remember exactly what happened.
[Female victim] tried to film him to show him what he was like when drunk, but he grabbed the phone from her.
A North Yorkshire Horizons representative told the court Peacock's first appointment with the service has been scheduled, and confirmed he had referred himself to the agency.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Peacock will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court on September 25 for sentence.
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