Man ‘attacked lesbian with a supermarket trolley’ because she hugged her partner
A man has pleaded guilty to a supermarket trolley assault on a lesbian, after seeing her cuddleĀ her partner.
The incident occurred atĀ Ards Shopping Centre in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, on March 15 last year.
68-year-old pensioner Samuel Edward Parke pleaded guilty to the assault this week atĀ Ards Magistratesā Court.
The court he rounded onĀ Lorna Clarke Miskelly and her same-sex partner after they hugged, verbally arguing with the pair before swinging an ASDA supermarket trolley at Ms Miskelly and hitting her in the leg.
According to Belfast Live,Ā during the attack he told her:Ā “You are f*****g sick. Itās f*****g disgusting.”
The attack caused severe bruising asĀ Ms Miskelly has a rare blood condition.
Parke was initially facing charges of assaulting both women, but the second charge was dropped.
He pleaded guilty to the remaining charge of common assaultĀ with a hate crime element, after initially contesting the hate crime charge.
The case was adjourned until March 30. Parke was ordered to bring Ā£500 as compensation.
