The Stray Ferret spent the day at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (May 15).

We sat through hearings, which included cases of drink-driving, being in charge of a car while drunk and theft.

You can read reports on the cases below.

A Harrogate man who was caught twice the drink-drive limit has been banned from driving.

Sam Ryder, 35, of Bryony Road, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (May 15) where he admitted a drink-driving charge.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court that police had been passed information that a car had left the Kestrel Pub on Wetherby Road in Harrogate on April 27 where the driver was “in drink”.

Officers pulled Ryder over on Skipton Road at around 6pm, where he registered 82mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath — the legal limit is 35mg.

Ellie Boyd, defending, said the 35-year-old had been drinking at home the night before and had only had one glass of Prosecco before going to the Kestrel pub for food.

She added that Ryder had since began “partaking in sobriety” and had not had a drink since the incident.

Magistrates banned the defendant from driving for 17 months.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £48. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85.

Man admits stealing from Harrogate Sainsbury's

A man who stole two cases of beer from Sainsbury’s in Harrogate has been given a conditional discharge.

Del Johnson, 41, of Bower Street, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to one charge of theft on December 18.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, said Johnson had stolen two cases of San Miguel beer to the value of £26.00 from Sainsbury’s on Cold Bath Road.

The court heard that the 41-year-old was already subject to a community order which was imposed for a previous offence.

Ellie Boyd, defending, said Johnson had been complying fully with the order and requested that magistrates keep it in place.

Magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge on Johnson.

Ropon man admits being in charge of vehicle while drunk

A Ripon man has admitted being in charge of a car while drunk.

Mark Burrill, 52, of Moorside Dale, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he spoke to confirm his name, address and enter a plea.

Burrill admitted being in charge of a vehicle while drunk on November 2 last year.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, said police were called to the Alexandra pub at 7.45pm after reports of a man trying to drive his car after drinking.

Officers later spotted Burrill on CCTV trying to access his car, which was outside Hotel du Vin.

Police arrived and found the 52-year-old in his car with the ignition on. Officers turned the car off and took Burrill to Harrogate Police Station, the court heard.

The defendant registered 75mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath — the legal limit is 35mg.

Ellie Boyd, defending, told the court that Burrill accepted that he had consumed a “large amount of alcohol” on that evening.

Ms Boyd said the defendant went to his car to charge his mobile phone, which required the ignition to be on. She added that he had “no intention” of driving.

Magistrates endorsed Burrill’s licence with 10 points. He was also fined £76 and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £30 and court costs of £85.

Man denies driving without insurance in Harrogate

A man has denied driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen in Harrogate.

Randeep Mudhar, of Beeston in Leeds, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday where he spoke to confirm his name, address and enter a plea.

He denied driving without third party insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis on West Park in Harrogate on February 16 this year.

A trial date was set for September 18 at Harrogate Magistrates Court.