Man grabbed pregnant woman by neck after parking dispute and blamed her “hormones”

A man grabbed a pregnant woman by the neck and pushed her against a wall after she asked him to move a van that had blocked her car in a car park.

Kane Samms, 35, later told police that the woman had been “overreacting” and suggested her reaction was “likely due to her hormones”.

The incident happened on November 24, 2023, after the woman left the Namas pet shop in Bolton and discovered that her car was trapped by a van parked across the entrance to the car park.

She returned to the shop to ask about the vehicle and was directed to Samms, who identified himself as its owner.

The woman told the court that she felt “uncomfortable with the way he had spoken to her”.

When she asked him to move the van, Samms reportedly replied: “When you use your manners.”

After she said “please”, he accused her of having “disrespected him”.

She repeated her request, but Samms responded by calling her a “little sl*t”.

He then approached her, grabbed her by the neck and pushed her against a wall.

The woman was frightened to fight back because she was concerned about how Samms might react.

Prosecutor Eddy Steele told Minshull Street Crown Court that Samms would not have known the woman was pregnant because she was only eight weeks into her pregnancy at the time.

After the incident, she contacted police and attended Royal Bolton Hospital, where she complained of soreness around her neck and the back of her head.

Fortunately, doctors found that she had not suffered any injuries.

“Women are dramatic”

When Samms was interviewed by police on December 19, 2023, he reportedly described the woman as “overreacting” and said her response was “likely due to her hormones”.

Mr Steele told the court: “When asked why [she] would make up these allegations, he stated that it was because women are dramatic.”

The victim later described the emotional impact of the incident in a statement read to the court.

“I don’t feel as if I could go back to the pet shop again,” she said.

“I felt angry that someone could treat me like that and just approach me and put his hands on me. You see things happen like this all the time, but when it happens to you it feels completely different, it’s shocking.”

The court also heard that Samms had 10 previous convictions for 13 offences, including assault.

Judge condemns Samms’ behaviour

Defending, Richard Flook said Samms had demonstrated insight into what he had done and was ashamed of his behaviour.

“There are no excuses for it,” he said.

The defence also told the court that Samms cared for his two children and that his previous convictions were of “significant age”.

Judge Neil Usher nevertheless strongly criticised Samms’ conduct.

“You behaved in a disgraceful manner towards this lady, who was simply making a perfectly civil remark about being blocked in,” the judge said.

“It seems to me you have a problem with your temper.”

Samms, of Tweedle Hill Road, Blackley, pleaded guilty to a single charge of assault by beating.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days as well as 100 hours of unpaid work.