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07
Sept
Man admits assaulting depot workers near Boroughbridge
The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (September 5).
We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of drug-driving and assault.
You can read reports on three cases below.
A man has admitted assaulting two dairy plant workers in Boroughbridge.
Daniel Ardes, of Pennine Grove in Bromsgrove, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (September 5), where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.
Ardes, 58, admitted assaulting two named men at the Paynes Dairies depot in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, on July 29 this year.
Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court that Ardes was working as an agency driver when he arrived at the depot at 4.30pm on the day of the assault.
Ms Whiteley said two named workers at the depot “heard a bang” and saw the defendant crash his van while attempting to uncouple his trailer.
She told the court:
[The named men] shouted at him and the defendant got his phone out. [Named man] rang the owner of the company to report the incident.
Mr Ardes became aggressive and lunged at them.
The court heard that Ardes hit one of the victims two or three times and struck the other with his phone.
Ms Whiteley said when arrested the 58-year-old gave no comment during police interview.
Martin Townend, defending, told the court that Ardes had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Mr Townend said the crash at the depot was an accident and “not deliberate”. He added that the workers were shouting at Ardes.
He said:
They were shouting at him and started using racial language towards him. He went on his phone to ring the agency for assistance.
He accepts that he was lashing out.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be produced. Ardes will appear before Harrogate Magistrates Court again on October 24, 2025.
Man admits drug-driving near Knaresborough
A man has admitted drug-driving in Calcutt near Knaresborough.
Gareth Taylor, of Renton Close in Bishop Monkton, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday.
Taylor, 40, spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He pleaded guilty to drug-driving on Thistle Hill in Calcutt on July 14 this year.
Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, said police pulled over Taylor after receiving information about suspected drug-driving.
The 40-year-old tested positive for 177 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine — a breakdown product of cocaine — per litre of blood.
Martin Townend, defending, said there was no suggestion that Taylor was driving dangerously.
He added that the defendant used his van for work and would now lose that privilege.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be produced. Taylor will appear before Harrogate Magistrates Court again on November 4, 2025.
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