A council worker who assaulted his female housemate has escaped punishment.
Carl Noel, of Clement Street in Birkby, appeared before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.
Noel, a business support officer for Kirklees Council, pleaded guilty to assaulting Natasha Furlong on April 21.
James Weekes, prosecuting, said that the pair and another male had lived together as tenants.
However, the relationship between the parties deteriorated and Ms Furlong and her friend had decided to move out.
On the date of the assault they went to Noel’s address to remove the rest of their belongings.
Mr Weekes said: “They could see that various items had been thrown out into the garden and some were broken.
“She (Ms Furlong) went into the property and Mr Noel jumped out of his chair.”
Mr Weekes said that the 39-year-old grabbed Ms Furlong by the throat and pushed her, causing her to fall backwards into her friend.
He then slammed the door shut and police were called.
Noel accepted that he pushed Ms Furlong but denied putting his hands around her throat.
His solicitor described Noel, who had no previous convictions, as a hard working father-of-five.
Magistrates were told that he had worked for the council for 10 years, having left his Huddersfield University course in Architectural Technology for the job.
Noel was the head tenant of the property and had sub-let it to the other two.
He had been advised that he could refuse to let them return to the property.
Noel said he “ushered” Ms Furlong out of the address when she turned up without warning and believed that he had used reasonable force.
Magistrates gave Noel a conditional discharge for six months.
They told him that he must still pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
