A SOLDIER from North Yorkshire spat in a woman’s face after a night out with friends in Selby turned sour.

Levi Brogan Taylor, 20, formerly of Maple Walk, Goole, pleaded guilty to common assault at Selby Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard Taylor, currently stationed in Germany, had travelled back to the UK for the hearing, which related to an incident in Selby Market Place on December 23.

Kathryn Reeves, prosecuting, told the court Taylor had been out with friends on the night in question, when they were refused entry to Kans Nightclub due to one of their party being in a wheelchair and no access being available that night.

Sometime later, Taylor came across Kelsey Louise Stevenson near the nightclub, when an altercation took place which ended with Taylor spitting at Ms Stevenson.

Miss Reeves said police on duty in the area were approached by the victim at about 3am, who told them she had been spat at and pushed by Taylor.

Lee-Anne Robins-Hicks, defending, told the court Taylor was a person of good character who had known Ms Stevenson at school, and did not know why they ended up arguing near the nightclub that night.

Mrs Robins-Hicks said Taylor accepted the charge, but said his actions on that evening were “isolated and extremely out of character”, and the impact of the charges would continue after the hearing as he expected to be charged further by the Army.

She said: “My client doesn’t know why this took place, he had not seen her for some considerable number of years.

“He accepts there was a small amount of spittle that landed on the complainant, which he regrets. He pushed her to get her out of his personal space, and accepts that in doing so, he has assaulted her.”

Magistrates ordered Taylor to pay a £130 fine, plus £85 costs, a £15 victim surcharge, and £50 compensation to Miss Stevenson.