A SPAT between two soldiers waiting to be posted to Iraq ended in one of them appearing in court yesterday.

Paul Williams, 23, who is with 38 Engineer Regiment at Claro Barracks, Ripon, admitted using threatening behaviour.

Catherine Knowles, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates police were alerted to an incident on the taxi rank in Ripon's Market Place at 2.30am on December 1 after security camera operators saw two men squaring up to each other.

Williams, who had taken his shirt off, was seen to punch the other man once before kneeing him three times.

Even when other soldiers pulled him off, Williams still made three more attempts to continue his attack.

Miss Knowles said when police intervened neither of the two men involved wanted to talk, but after watching the CCTV footage police decided to act against Williams.

David Camidge, mitigating, said the "scuffle" was sparked by an argument in a nightclub over a minor matter.

Williams had received a military punishment after being ordered to do 24 hours of extra duties. He was fined £250 by magistrates, with £70 costs.