Karate teacher shouts abuse at judge (From Ealing Times)

Karate teacher shouts abuse at judge

4:55pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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A KARATE teacher who headbutted her ex-partner has narrowly escaped jail despite calling the judge a "w*****".

Samantha Price, 33, of Folkestone Avenue, Northolt, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Nolan Dee on March 9 last year.

She was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, despite leaving him permanently disfigured from a broken nose after she "lost control" following a heated civil hearing.

Prosecutor Charles John-Jules, told Southwark Crown Court: "This matter occurred because the defendant and the victim were at the Royal Courts of Justice.

"They were standing inside the court building and whilst they were in the reception area the defendant approached the victim and shouted at him aggressively.

"These comments were ignored. She pushed the victim in the chest area, head-butted him in the nose. That resulted in a fracture."

Mr Dee, father to one of her children, has been recommended for surgery to correct a crooked nose.

Peter Dahlsen, defending Price, said while the outburst was "totally unjustified" it occurred "at a time of great stress and heightened emotion".

Mr Recorder Nigel Gerald began his sentencing by telling her: "It is a serious offence of gratuitous violence against the father of one of your children.

"It was unprovoked and it has caused permanent disfigurement to his nose.

"I'm going to sentence you to imprisonment for nine months."

Furious Price yelled: "It's a pity the judge is a w*****," before Mr Dahlsen swiftly moved to the dock to silence her.

Moving on to suspend the sentence the judge said: "In some respects the attack was out-of-character and in the heat of the moment.

"In some respects that was counterbalanced in that, ironically, you do train children in self-restraint and martial arts.

"In my judgment, sending you immediately to prison would not be a constructive approach to sentencing."

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