A MAN who responded to his neighbour's kindness with an attack on her was warned by a court yesterday that he was facing jail.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Elizabeth Horner often took meals to Terrence McGowan, who lived alone, but when she went to collect her utensils on November 6, he turned violent.

McGowan, 35, whose flat in Century Walk, Harrogate, is in the same block as Ms Horner's, pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

Louise Jenkins, prosecuting, said the pair had become friendly in the three years they had been neighbours.

McGowan initially did not respond to her knocking, but when he opened the door, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the floor, where she was kicked.

Mrs Jenkins said McGowan, who was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed in November last year for assault, told police that when he responded to repeated door knocks, he had pushed Ms Horner away. She said Ms Horner tried to punch him and he had retaliated.

Geoffrey Rogers, in mitigation, said McGowan had been asleep in bed when Ms Horner called. He said his client had been aggrieved by her knocking, phone calls and text messages and had lost his temper.

Court chairman Gordon Charlton ordered probation and psychiatric reports to be prepared and warned McGowan all sentencing options would be considered, including prison.

McGowan was bailed until January 15 on condition he does not contact Ms Horner.