The moment an “out of control” businessman dragged a parish councillor by the hair after a disagreement over birds nests has been caught on camera.
The footage showed the moment council chair Andrew Mason and businessman Chris Makin got into a row in the North Yorkshire village Church Fenton.
In the video, Mason is seen lying on the floor and can be heard shouting “get off me” while Makin drags him by his clothes and hair.
Michael Smith, prosecuting, said: “The defendant scooped Mr Mason’s hair into his hands and tried to pull him across the road by his hair.”
Mason can also be heard screaming: “The police are on their way, you lunatic,” before calling Makin an “ignorant bully” as the defendant swears at him.
The altercation took place on April 4 last year after a group of local residents gathered in an attempt to stop contractors working for Makin “crowning” trees over concerns of birds nesting there.
Prosecutor Smith said they were concerned about the birds and that he did not have permission to remove nests close the road.
He added that Makin also appeared to instruct his workmen to move the cherry picker forward as Mason is lying in front of it and the defendant can be heard on the video saying “forward a bit”.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mason said that he thought “my life is in peril”.
The court heard that Mason had suffered from a number of stress-related issues following the attack as well as sleepless nights. Police had been called earlier and had advised Makin to stop work, however officers had left by the time the assault happened.
Makin was found guilty of assault by beating at an earlier trial. On Thursday, chair of the bench Phil Morris said it was an assault of a “persistent and prolonged nature” and fined him £4,800. He was also ordered to pay a £1,920 surcharge, £775 costs and £684 compensation to Mason.
Richard Wright KC, defending said his client had “learned a salutary lesson” and told the court he had made a “massive contribution to the GDP of the UK”.
Speaking outside the court, Mason said: “I think his behaviour was scurrilous, I think he’s a bully, and I think justice has been served. His good name no longer exists.”
