Two Harrogate men have been fined after fighting with one another.

Their cases were heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (March 27) when the two men appeared before the court separately.

Wayne Ilsley, who told the court his address was Bower Road, appeared first.

Ilsley pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, told the court the latter took place on October 20 last year when police officers stopped a car on the A59 in York due to issues with its tyres.

Police identified a named man as the driver and Ilsley as a passenger in the car.

Ms Barnard said the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and a roadside breath sample was taken. 

The driver then tried to get a can of lager out to drink but the officers stopped him. When they did, Ilsley approached the officers in an “aggressive manner”.

The 36-year-old defendant was asked to move from the road, but he refused and continued to be aggressive towards the police, the court heard.

When the driver was arrested and taken to the police vehicle, Ilsley gave the driver some of his belongings and “poured lager into [driver’s] mouth”.

Ilsley was subsequently arrested.

Alcohol involved

Ms Barnard said the second offence, which happened on March 7 this year, involved a fight between Ilsley and his co-accused.

The court heard police officers received a call from a woman who was frightened after a fight broke out between Ilsley and his co-accused at her house.

The woman told police she had “locked herself in the bathroom” but the men had taken the fight outside.

Ms Barnard said the two men were verbally abusing each other and “throwing punches” at one another.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court alcohol was involved in both incidents.

He said the defendant “was not thinking” when he obstructed the police officers, and just wanted to return his friend’s belongings to him before he was taken to custody.

Mr Tinning added Ilsley had “too much alcohol” when the fight took place, but the defendant couldn’t recall why he and the co-accused fell out.

The court heard Ilsley has been struggling with some emotional issues due to a personal situation, but he is working to address these.

The magistrates fined Ilsley a total of £253, which comprised a £120 fine, a £48 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. 

Co-accused

The co-accused, Cieran Bamford, of Knaresborough Road, also pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

Bamford, who was not legally represented in court, was the other party involved in the fight with Ilsley.

Ms Barnard told the court the offence happened at a Harrogate property at around 9pm and Bamford was also drunk at the time of the brawl.

The 33-year-old apologised to the court for his actions.

He said he was having “a bad time” when the fight happened and accepted the consequences he would face.

Bamford was ordered to pay a £40 fine, a £16 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.