A SKIPTON man has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault after he called a French neighbour a derogatory name during an altercation.

Amar Lemdjedani, 38, of Cawder Road, also admitted criminal damage when breaking Christopher Leray's glasses on August 21 last year, in Cawder Road, Skipton.

Prosecuting, Mel Ibbotson said the defendant, present at Skipton Magistrates' Court on May 19, had beaten Mr Leray after Mr Leray had aproached his property. The victim had hearing arguing going on between the defendant and his partner.

She said Mr Leray had concerns and went outside the defendant's property.

Mrs Ibottson said an altercation began and Lemdjedani punched Mr Leray on the left cheek causing his glasses to fall to the floor resulting in £100 of damage.

The defendant continued to punch the victim and call him what he regarded as a racist term. Both fell to the floor and the complainant suffered a grazed knee and hand.

"Mr Leray tried to escape and the defendant followed. He told the defendant to get away. The police arrived and the defendant stopped," said Mrs Ibbotson.

The neighbours had known one another for a number of years.

Mitigating, Keith Blackwell, said although his client had admitted assault with a racial element, he did not believe himself to be racist.

"The defendant's father was an immigrant from Algeria and his mother taught French.

"There was no antipathy. He did not mean any menace by calling the complainant the name. He said he had nothing against the French and even drove French cars."

Mr Blackwell said his client, a self employed plumber and heating engineer, had lived at his address for seven years and the complainant at his address for six and a half years with no problems.

He said: "On the evening in question the defendant was in his home with his parther. He had phoned the police himself over a private matter.

"The complainant had heard shouting and went outside. The defendant didn't see any reason for the complainant to get involved. He came to blows with the complainant and the assault took place. 

"He has apologised unreservedly to the complainant and knows he should never have assaulted him. Sadly he just lost the plot a bit. Reasoning went out of the window and fists started flying. There was no hatred or anything like that and no difficulties since that day."

Magistrates asked the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report and the case was adjourned to June 16, at Skipton, for sentencing.

Lemdjedani was given unconditional bail.