Nigel David Green, 29, of Bilton Close, Harrogate, appeared before the town's magistrates on Tuesday to admit he had not turned up to do his stint of unpaid work on January 3.

The court heard 90 hours of unpaid work had been ordered as part of a 12-month community order imposed on Green on November 19 for assault.

He told presiding magistrate Elizabeth Hesp the heavy show had been responsible for him not turning up for work. There had been six inches on the ground ''so I didn't bother going.''

Offenders

Duty probation officer Andrew Watson said only 12 and a half of the 90 hours had so far been completed as Green had attended only two sessions.

And Mr Watson added: ''Unpaid work was affected by the weather but on January 3 a working party went out. Other offenders managed to attend that day.''

Green said he was not deliberately trying to avoid doing the work. ''I want to get it knocked off,'' he said adding that though he had high hopes of employment after a job interview that afternoon, he was prepared to do two sessions a week to complete the unpaid hours.

Deciding the order would continue and ordering an extra seven hours to be done for the breach Miss Hesp told Green court instructions had to be carried out and added: ''Good luck with your interview.''