A MAN from Selby has been fined by York magistrates after pleading guilty to racially/religiously aggravated harassment.

Simon Sheppard, 60, of Cockret Court, Cockret Road, Selby, was fined £200 and ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £30 surcharge.

He is due to appear back before magistrates on September 15 to answer a charge of using threatening/ abusive words/ behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

His arrest on Friday afternoon sparked the evacuation of neighbouring homes when police searching his flat found what they thought were hazardous materials.

Neighbours said they saw emergency services at the Cockret Court flats in the early hours of Saturday morning.