A man with martial arts training who “knew he had a hard punch” followed and attacked a man in an act of “revenge”, a court has heard.
Samuel Hulmes, 34, of Haydock Street, Newton-Le-Willows, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of causing actual bodily harm. Chris Taylor, prosecuting, detailed that in September 2019, Andy Henshaw lived next door to Hulmes’ former partner whom he had a “neighbourly relationship with”.
Mr Henshaw had once assisted the woman in going to court to obtain a non molestation order, but other than that had limited contact with her. Over a year later in October 2021, Mr Henshaw recalled a dispute in relation to their family dog, which the neighbour claimed was barking loudly and upsetting her children.
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Hulmes was at the woman’s property at the time, and put his head over the fence to explain the issue and acted aggressively but made no threats to Mr Henshaw. Mr Taylor explained that after this, the neighbours were no longer on good terms, and at points, the woman was abusive towards Mr Henshaw.
Following this, an anonymous call was made to social services in relation to the woman’s children, and she moved out of the property. One week after she moved, three unknown males tried to enter Mr Henshaw’s home, and while banging and kicking on the door, shouted: “We will get you for what you have done to her”.
They did not gain entry, and Mr Henshaw never saw those three males again. Mr Taylor told the court that as a result of the anonymous tip, social services intervened in the care of the children, and Hulmes believed Mr Henshaw was the person who made that tip.
On July 27 last year, at around 8.50am, Mr Henshaw arrived home in his car from Tesco when he noticed a black Audi stop two feet behind him and saw Hulmes get out. Hulmes punched Mr Henshaw’s car window, and manually opened the car door before the victim was able to remove his seatbelt.
He punched Mr Henshaw repeatedly to the face until he was unconscious, and said “it is your fault my kids got taken away for six months”. The prosecution and Mr Henshaw claim that after the attack, Hulmes “dragged” the victim out of his car, causing him to land on his left elbow which bent the wrong way and dislocated.
The defence dispute this, and instead say Mr Henshaw somewhat regained consciousness and got out of the vehicle himself, before falling on his elbow, causing the injury. Neighbours of Mr Henshaw ran out to intervene and Hulmes sped away from the scene.
Officers arrived and the victim was taken to hospital in Warrington, where he was given gas and air for the pain, but no beds were available. A cast was put on his arm but a CT scan later showed the elbow was dislocated, so the cast had to be removed in order for his elbow to be manipulated before a new cast was placed on it.
Mr Henshaw waited four days for an operation which took place on August 3, but had other health problems which led to difficulties with the surgery. In a victim personal statement written in January 2023 read by the prosecution, Mr Henshaw detailed the extreme difficulties he has suffered since the attack, including that he cannot bathe or eat without help.
He also explained there have been further complications with the healing of his elbow and ongoing issues including damage to blood vessels, and nerves, meaning he may have to have potentially life threatening further surgery. Mr Henshaw now also has accelerated arthritis as a direct result of the injury to his elbow, which was not present prior to the attack.
He said he feels as if he is a burden to his wife and family as he cannot return to his previous line of work and relies on them for transportation, so is willing to risk the surgery. It read: “I am willing to risk life and limb, literally, in order to have a better life.”
Hulmes was traced and arrested by police, and gave “frank admissions” to punching the victim in his car during the interview, but denied dragging him out of the vehicle and causing the injury to his elbow. He said he had been doing combat sports for a long time, so “knew how to throw a punch”, had been told he “had a hard punch”, and hurt his own hand due to the force of the assault.
The father-of-two said he stopped punching when he knew the victim was unconscious, and only launched the attack after spotting Mr Henshaw by chance while driving through the area for a different reason. Mr Taylor said: “There was simmering resentment in the mind of this defendant against Mr Henshaw, for the reasons you have heard.
“That simmering resentment was given the opportunity to be vocalised further in a very physical and violent way when he chanced upon Mr Henshaw. “He made a very deliberate and conscious decision when he decided to follow Mr Henshaw to his home address.
“He followed him in order to cause this assault.” He added: “He explained what a powerful weapon his punch was, he knew he had a hard punch and he used that hard punch.”
Ben Berkson, defending, detailed that his client has committed no further offences and has no previous convictions of any kind. He said this offence was out of character for Hulmes, who has qualifications and gainful employment working as a delivery driver.
Mr Berkson said: “He wishes he had acted differently that day and he acknowledges how bad his actions were. “He recognises that this is a monumental line in the sand for him to have any access to see his children at all.
“His number one priority is to re-engage with his children.” Mr Berkson explained that Hulmes is no longer in contact with his children as a direct result of this offence and subsequent police interview.
In sentencing, Recorder Richard Conley said: “You were in a rage as early in the morning as 8.50am, which gives a flavour as to what you were carrying in your head at that time. “He was a sitting duck, he was sitting in his car with his seatbelt on and could not defend himself.
“You decided to take the law into your own hands in this violent and uncontrollable way.” Hulmes was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and a restraining order barring him from entering the road where the victim lives or contacting him was implemented for 10 years.
He said “wow, wow” as he was brought down to the cells by a dock officer.
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