A SKIPTON man took offence when an elderly woman told him to put his dog on a lead, calling her a 'divvy' and adding that she 'should be dead', heard magistrates.

Vincent Hawkins, 41, followed the woman, who was walking with a stick, along Skipton High Street continuing to shout at her.

Prosecutor, Melanie Ibbotson, told the Skipton court the woman had been reduced to tears and had found the whole incident very upsetting.

Hawkins had been walking with his dog, a terrier, along the High Street on December 9 when the woman had believed it was going to urinate on her stick and so had asked Hawkins to get it under control, said Ms Ibbotson.

Hawkins, who admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, had developed an attitude to authority that clouded his behaviour, the court was told.

In mitigation, John Mewies, said the terrier was Hawkins only friend and was so tame it did not need to be on a lead.

"The dog didn't cock his leg on the woman's walking stick, and he (Hawkins) was going about his lawful business, " said Mr Mewies.

Hawkins, of North Parade, was told by magistrates that not everyone liked dogs and he ought to be aware of that, but that he had been very rude to the woman, who was elderly and had been reduced to tears. He was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 surcharge, there was no order for costs because of Hawkins' limited means and outstanding fines, which the court was told was currently at £2,264.