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Yachting friendship ended by assault
A BOAT owner pulled a friend to the floor and left him needing stitches to his head after a row.
Martin Verity, who kept a boat on Hartlepool marina, grabbed Andrew Huntley in a pub in Navigation Point, in Hartlepool, on New Year's Eve.
The two men and their partners had earlier spent the night enjoying drinks on Mr Huntley's yacht before going to Rosie O'Grady's pub.
Hartlepool Magistrates' Court heard an argument broke out between the party before Verity's wife and Mr Huntley's partner went to the ladies' toilets.
Mr Huntley followed them in but was pulled back by the shirt by Verity, 46, who told him to get out.
Mr Huntley fell over and banged his forehead causing the injury which needed seven stitches.
Verity admitted common assault and was ordered by magistrates to pay Mr Huntley 100 compensation.
Neil Taylor, mitigating, said: "My client has always accepted responsibility. He has never denied that he caused the injury.
"With hindsight, that use of force went beyond what was reasonable because it caused him to fall and the injury."
He added the incident had ended the relationship between the two couples and Verity had now moved his boat from Hartlepool to near Hull.
Verity, of Stannington Road, Sheffield, was also told to pay 87 court costs.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
