The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court today (October 24).

We sat through a full morning of hearings, which run from 10am until 1pm. It included cases of drugs, stalking and emergency worker assaults.

You can read reports on three cases below. 

A man has pleaded guilty to stalking a Harrogate district woman by filming himself at her parents' grave and sending the video to her.

Carl Leighton, of Law Close in Wetherby, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court today (October 24) after being charged with stalking involving serious harm or distress.

Leighton, 45, spoke only to confirm his name and address. He entered a guilty plea to the charge.

The prosecution told the court that the defendant had pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking between November 19, 2023, and February 13 this year despite the named victim asking him to stop.

The court heard that Leighton had contacted the victim via phone, sent flowers to her and filmed himself at her parents' grave before sending the video to her.

It also heard that the 45-year-old had threatened to attend court while her daughter was giving evidence.

Sean Wilson, defending, told the court that Leighton was of previous good character and asked magistrates for a full probation report to be carried out before he was sentenced.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on November 22.

Man admits to drug driving

A man has been banned from driving after admitting drug driving in Harrogate.

Adam Wood, of Rhubarb Hill, Wakefield, tested positive for cannabis after being stopped by police on Hall Green Lane in North Rigton on September 3.

Magistrates banned him from driving for 12 months and handed him a £1,160 fine.

Knaresborough man fined after assaulting police officers

A Knaresborough man has been fined after assaulting a police officer in Harrogate.

Ronnie Simpson, 29, of Halfpenny Lane, was charged with assaulting two officers after being drunk and disorderly outside Mojo on Parliament Street on October 5.

His defence told Harrogate Magistrates Court that the defendant had no previous convictions and had suffered a family bereavement shortly before the incident in Harrogate.

The court heard that the assault was “totally out of character” for Simpson.

Simpson pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined £400.

Harrogate man uses abusive language at bus station

A man was given a conditional discharge after admitting using threatening and abusive language at Harrogate Bus Station.

Nathan Richards, 42, of King Edwards Drive, pleaded guilty to the charge at a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning.

Officers arrested the defendant on October 4 after he was seen acting "erratic" and swearing in front of members of the public.

Richards, who defended himself at the hearing, apologised to the magistrates for his behaviour.

He was given a conditional discharge of six months on account of his early guilty plea and ordered to pay court costs of £111.

Man fined after cannabis posession in Harrogate

A Bradford man has been fined after being caught with cannabis in Harrogate.

Mohammed Mahmud, 28, of Drovers Way, was pulled over by police on the B6451 on October 10.

The court heard that Mahmud, who was a passenger in the car, admitted to officers that he had cannabis in his possession for personal use.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty at a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning.

Magistrates fined Mahmud £197. A destruction order for the drugs was also issued.

Harrogate teenager fined after cannabis posession at Travelodge

A Harrogate teenager has been fined after being caught with cannabis at a Travelodge hotel.

Joshua Thorpe, 18, admitted being in possession of the Class B drug on March 10.

Police were called to the Travelodge on Tower Street in Harrogate at 10.30pm after reports of a smell of cannabis, a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court heard.

After entering a room at the hotel, police found Thorpe and two other men with five bags of cannabis. Thorpe made a full admission to officers at the scene.

His defence said the teenager was already subject to a youth rehabilitation order for a similar offence and was staying at the hotel at the time after his father kicked him out.

Thorpe was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £111. A destruction order for the drugs was also issued.