A Ripon man who kicked a woman in the back as she was picking up items has been sentenced.

Andrew Keogh, of Harrogate Road, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 5) for sentencing.

Keogh was found guilty of assaulting a woman by beating at a trial on April 24 and pleaded guilty to one offence of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence.

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court the assault took place on September 10 last year.

A member of the public, who witnessed the offence, left Harrogate District Hospital at around 9.30pm that day.

The man could “hear a commotion happening” on Lancaster Park Road at the time and heard both a male and female voice.

The court heard the witness, who was with his wife, walked towards Knaresborough Road and saw the male (Keogh) and female nearby. 

The man noticed a number of items, which appeared to be groceries, scattered on the ground around the couple.

The man assumed Keogh and the female had dropped the items.

Ms Ibbotson said Keogh was “being loud and aggressive” towards the woman, who was his partner at the time.

When the woman got on her hands and knees to pick up the items, Keogh kicked her in the lower back.

She fell to the ground after being kicked. Keogh then threw one of the grocery items at her but it did not make contact with the woman, Ms Ibbotson said. 

The witness called the police, who spoke to Keogh and the woman when they arrived at the scene.

The woman told officers Keogh had “just walked past her". 

Threats to kill

Ms Ibbotson told the court the second offence, which happened on April 8 this year, took place at Fern House in Starbeck.

A man who works at the council homelessness facility was aware of an ongoing incident involving Keogh and an unnamed male at the time. 

The men were arguing and Keogh, 36, told the unnamed male: “I will kill you.”

The Fern House staff member called the police and started to film the argument on his phone, the court heard.

Ms Ibbotson said Keogh was drunk and threatening the unnamed male, as well as being violent.

The Fern House worker was afraid of Keogh and his behaviour at the time.

Keogh breached a conditional discharge by committing the offence. 

'Spiral of self-destruction'

Peter Minnikin, defending, told the court Keogh still maintains his innocence in relation to the assault offence.

The complainant, who has since died, did not support any prosecution against Keogh, telling officers “nothing had occurred” and that she “was not injured at all”.

Mr Minnikin said much of Keogh’s offending has been “inquisitive” due to being “blighted by drug and alcohol addiction for much of his life”.

He also cited a traumatic incident in Keogh’s personal life, which led to a “spiral of self-destruction”.

Mr Minnikin added:

The defendant now has stable accommodation and is engaging with North Yorkshire Horizons, which helps people with drug and alcohol issues.

“He wants to get back to a position where he is not committing offences and his life is stable again”, Mr Minnikin said.

The court heard Keogh has previously been given opportunities to engage with the probation service, but he has not always chosen to take those opportunities.

The threats made at Fern House were between both parties, Mr Minnikin also said.

The magistrates sentenced Keogh to an 18-month community order, during which he must complete a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £577 to the court.