A VISITOR to Settle was left shocked after a 64-year-old man kissed her while she was in a pub enjoying a drink.

The woman was temporarily alone while her husband visited the toilet when David Lister approached her and kissed her on the neck, Skipton magistrates heard on Friday.

He refused to apologise and went on to tell her husband he would 'slit his throat and cut him up', the court was told.

Lister had been at the bar of the Golden Lion, Duke Street, with his cocker spaniel on September 9 when the woman had briefly spoken to him. He had then gone over to her while she was alone and kissed her.

Lister, of Ye Old Naked Man Cafe, Settle, who admitted sexual assault, had lost his inhibitions because he had been drinking, the court was told.

An off-duty police officer, who knew Lister, had intervened and the 64-year-old had been told to leave and was barred from the premises. The woman and her husband had also left, despite efforts to make them stay.

In mitigation, Neil Topham said Lister had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, had accepted that his behaviour had been inappropriate and was extremely sorry.

"It was a very foolish mistake made under the influence of alcohol which had the unfortunate result of lowering his inhibitions," said Mr Topham.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing to November 14 for reports.