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01
Feb
Knaresborough man sentenced for assault on victim in his home
The Stray Ferret spent the day at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (January 30).
We sat through a full day of hearings, which included cases of assault.
You can read reports on the cases below.
A man has been sentenced for assault after attacking another man in his home.
Martin Lister, 60, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
The prosecution said Lister, who pleaded guilty to assault, attacked the named man at his address on Kingsway in Huby on August 3, 2025.
The 60-year-old pushed the man into his sink and “got into a scuffle”, the court heard.
Magistrates were told that Lister, of St Margarets Road in Knaresborough, carried out the assault after it was claimed that the named victim had broken into his house.
The court heard that the victim allegedly broke into the property after he found out his ex-partner was staying there.
Following the assault, the man suffered bruising to his back and his ribs were tender to touch. He attended Harrogate District Hospital's emergency department after the assault.
Andrew Tinning, defending, said Lister carried out the assault because he was told the victim broke into his property.
He said:
That is the only reason why he lost his temper. He has no record of behaving this way.
Magistrates sentenced Lister to a 12-month community order, which requires him to attend 15 rehabilitation activity days.
He was also ordered to abide by a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am for four months and subject to a three-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.
Magistrates also ordered Lister to pay £300 in compensation, a £114 victims’ surcharge and £85 in court costs.
Man handed restraining order after Harrogate assault
A man has been handed a five-year restraining order after an assault in Harrogate.
James Thompson, 43, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Thompson, of Cavendish Grove in Guiseley, pleaded guilty to assault at a previous hearing and appeared in court for sentencing.
The prosecution said the 43-year-old had been in a relationship with the named victim, who he assaulted in his car on April 28, 2025.
Thompson grabbed the victim by the jumper as she tried to leave his car while they were having an argument and “pulled her back in”, the court heard.
He then held onto her wrist “preventing her from leaving the car for five minutes”, the court heard.
Magistrates were told the defendant apologised after the incident, but the victim said in an impact statement that the assault caused her to have a panic attack.
Rebecca Hargreaves, defending, said Thompson regretted what he did and he was “fearful of the relationship being over”.
Hargreaves said the 43-year-old had “lost his good character” by being in court.
Magistrates sentenced Thompson to a 18-month community order, which included 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also subject to a five-year restraining order which prevents him from contacting the named victim and her children.
Thompson was also ordered to pay a £114 victims’ surcharge and £85 in court costs.
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