Staithes man to be sentenced for assault

Iain Craig, 50, from Staithes, got the bat out of his car when the victim allegedly confronted him in an “aggressive manner”, York Crown Court heard.

Craig struck the victim “more than once” during the incident on the A171 between Hinderwell and Staithes.

He was later arrested and charged with ABH and possessing an offensive weapon in public on August 20.

Craig, of Cliff Road, Staithes, appeared in court on Monday when he admitted assault causing actual bodily harm but denied possessing an offensive weapon.

He claimed the baseball or softball bat was in the car by chance, not by design.

The Crown Prosecution Service accepted these pleas and the possession charge was dismissed.

Defence barrister Andrew Semple said Craig accepted he had struck the man with the bat.

But he told the court his client just happened to have it in his car because he had earlier been playing ball with his son and pet dog.

He said that the incident happened near Craig’s ex-wife’s house where a man at the property purportedly walked up to his

vehicle.

Mr Semple added: “He (Craig) thought violence may ensue and took the bat out of the car.

“He accepts hitting the complainant with the bat on more than one occasion.”

Mr Semple asked for an adjournment before sentence on medical grounds.

He said Craig was in poor health and asked judge Andrew Stubbs QC to adjourn sentencing, to allow time to compile a medical report on Craig.

Mr Stubbs granted the request and adjourned sentencing to January 24.

Craig was released on bail until then, but judge Andrew Stubbs warned Craig that all sentencing options were open, including the possibility of jail.