STREET attacks in the centre of Harrogate, which threaten the town's good name, will not be tolerated, magistrates said yesterday.

After seeing video footage of an early morning confrontation outside a nightclub at the junction of King's Road and Cheltenham Crescent, court chairman David Davies said they were determined to do something about such incidents. The video showed Brian Evans, 32, run 50 metres to attack Jonathan Heslop.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said there had been an incident between the men before they met outside the club.

He said that after some pushing Evans was persuaded to walk away, but then turned round and rushed at Mr Heslop and the pair struggled and fell to the ground.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Rogers said Evans, who had been drinking to excess at a friend's stag night, had no recollection of the incident in which he felt he had been the victim of excessive violence.

The court heard Evans sustained a cracked eye socket for which he was still receiving hospital treatment.

Evans, of King Edward's Drive, Harrogate pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour provoking fear of violence and was put on probation for two years and also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work. He was also told to pay costs of £69 and £100 compensation.