A SKIPTON man who assaulted his estranged wife and her naked lover at the Coniston Hotel and spa has been handed a community order with unpaid work.

Michael Morgan, 55, of Brindley Wharf, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two charges of assault by beating and one of harassment without violence.

Prosecutor Nadine Clough told Skipton magistrates that Morgan had been estranged from his wife, Rossalin, for several months and had sent her unpleasant text messages and threatened to put naked images of her, taken with her consent when they were together, on Facebook.

Miss Clough said Mrs Morgan, who worked as a domestic at the hotel, had booked a three night stay at the hotel from October 8.

It was on October 10 that her husband went to the hotel where staff gave him the room number she was staying.

When she opened the door to him he slapped her and pushed to the floor. He then pushed her lover who had just emerged from the shower.

Miss Clough said Mr Morgan punched the victim hitting hin near his left eye, causing a bruise. Morgan tried to continue punching the man and in the scuffle scratched his neck and shoulder.

The man managed to control Mr Morgan who then left the room.

Defending, John Mewies said his client was of previous good character and was neither aggressive nor vindictive.

“He and his wife married 15 years ago and have two children - 15 and 13 and he held out the hope there would be a reconciliation between them.

“The reason he had gone to find his wife was because she had been at the hotel for three days, abandoning her children. He lost control momentarily and went for the man in the shower.

“Mr Morgan even apologised to the man, though I am not sure why, and left,” said Mr Mewies.

Mr Mewies added his client was not proud of the fact he sent some nasty messages and expressed remorse, blaming being in drink at the time.

Magistrates said despite the remorse, the victim did not deserve what he got and ordered Morgan carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and gave him an 18 month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity days.

He was also given a restraining order for 12 months in which he must not contact his estranged wife in any way and could not to go near her home address or the Coniston Hotel.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, a surcharge of £95 and £85 costs.