Homophobic pensioner attacked lesbian couple with trolley for hugging at Asda

A pensioner has been found guilty of attacking a lesbian couple he saw hugging at a branch of Asda.

Samuel Edward Parke, 68, flew into a furious rage after seeing Lorna Clarke Miskelly hugging her girlfriend at the branch at the Ards shopping centre in County Down, Northern Ireland, in March last year.

The pensioner, who was out shopping at Asda with his wife at around 10am, shouted at the couple: “You are f****** sick. It’s f****** disgusting.”

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Ards Magistrates’ Court heard how Parke and his wife began arguing with Lorna and her girlfriend before he swung a shopping trolley at her, hitting her in the leg.

Lorna suffered severe bruising as a result of the attack as she suffers from a rare blood condition, according to Belfast Live.

Parke was arrested and initially charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, before it was reduced to common assault.

He was also originally charged with assaulting both women, but one charge was dropped at a previous court appearance.

Parke pleaded guilty to assault without the homophobic element, but later accepted that it was a hate crime.

The judge adjourned the case until March 30 for probation reports.

He warned Parke: “If I read anything in deviation from the prosecution’s case I will send you to prison.”

He also ordered Parke to bring £500 as compensation.

Top pic: Google