York pensioner, 70, facing long prison sentence after attack in farmer’s field

A York pensioner is facing a long spell behind bars after he admitted wounding a man in a farmer’s field.

Stephen Harpin, of Walmer Carr, appeared at York Crown Court via video link on Friday when he admitted wounding Trevor Coates with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

The incident happened in a field behind Walmer Carr in Wigginton on July 18, 2021.

Prosecutor Dan Cordey said there were concerns about Harpin’s mental wellbeing and that the circumstances surrounding the attack were “very unusual”.

Graham Parkin, mitigating, said Harpin had never been in trouble before and asked for sentence to be adjourned for a probation report.

Recorder Simon Kealey QC agreed to postpone the case for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports to assess Harpin’s level of “dangerousness” to the public.

However, he told Harpin: “Your plea of guilt to this offence is a most serious matter and will inevitably result in a lengthy custodial sentence.”

Harpin was remanded in custody until sentence on February 17 next year.