A FLAT racing jockey admitted assaulting a woman when he appeared at crown court yesterday  to face a trial.

North Yorkshire-based rider Paul Quinn will be sentenced next year once probation reports have been prepared.

The 35-year-old was to go on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of two sexual assaults last November.

Following hours of legal discussions, prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to a charge of common assault.

Quinn was served with a restraining order banning him from going near or contacting the woman he attacked.

Judge Peter Armstrong granted him bail until his next appearance at the court on Thursday, January 3.

Quinn, of Rymer Way, Thirsk, was told the sexual assault allegations will be left on file when he is sentenced.

The jockey has ridden 164 winners in a career stretching back to 1997 – the most recent at Southwell last week.

He has had nine winners from 69 mounts this year, the last aboard the Tim Easterby-trained Lilac Lace last Friday.

On July 3, he won on 50-1 shot Madam Lillibet for Brompton-on-Swale trainer Sharon Watt at Hamilton.

He registered his biggest success with the Investec Dash on Indian Trail, trained by David Nicholls, of Sessay, near Thirsk, at Epsom on 2009 Derby Day.

He also won the Mail On Sunday Mile Final at Ascot in 2000 on Eric Alston's Tornado Prince.