Man ‘threw screaming woman into van in Asda car park before …
Shoppers were left horrified after witnessing what they believed to be a kidnapping outside a busy Asda[1] supermarket, a court has heard.
Customers saw a white van driving at speed around a car park[2] in Kingston upon Hull before a woman climbed out and ran away screaming for help.
Shaun Chapman, 41, was then spotted getting out and picking up his partner before throwing her in the back of his van.
He was arrested later that day, on May 6, and has since appeared at Hull Crown Court[3] charged with affray and careless driving.
The court heard how witnesses had to take “evasive action” as he circled around the car park at a high speed.
A woman who was “screaming and frightened, shouting for somebody to help her” got out of the van as Chapman ran after her, reports Hull Live[4].
He then caught up to her, picking her up and bundling her back in the van through a side door, the court heard.
The couple were next seen on the banks of the River Hull, where another witness heard them both screaming and shouting. Chapman was again seen pursuing his partner.
When the witness tried to intervene, Chapman shouted aggressively at her. Police were called and he was arrested.
Judge Mark Berry told the court: “You were driving round Asda car park in such a manner it is plain those people who witnessed what happened were more frightened by it than you or your partner as they had no idea what was going on.
“Due to the way you were driving and acting, no one wanted to get involved and see what the problem was.”
Chapman and the woman are still together, the court heard.
The judge added: “But now it appears that whatever those problems were are now in the past. You and your partner are planning a future together.”
Chapman was handed a four-month prison sentence for affray and no separate penalty for the careless driving. He will receive five points on his licence.
Judge Berry said: “You have decent work as a plasterer. You have been remanded in custody for 64 days. If that doesn’t prove a deterrent to ensure you behave yourself in the future I don’t know what will.
“You are not a child anymore and you have a business to run. It is down to you and your partner to keep on an even keel.”
Chapman was released from custody yesterday having already served his time on remand.