Properly shaken up - really hurt (intentionally) whilst shopping

[Vinosaurus]

I was in Tesco about an hour ago - it was pretty busy but people all had masks on and were trying their best in the main to keep their distance ... as was I.

I don't really know what happened exactly, or why he did it, but I was picking up some fromage frais - nobody particularly close by - and I suddenly got shoved from behind. Turned my head to be presented with a alpha male type who lifted his arm (trying to explain that this was very much intentional and meant to hurt) and elbowed me in the back of the ribs with some real force. It was enough to wind me and cause me some real pain.

He walked off pretty briskly but squared up to me (from a distance) when I shouted after him "what the hell do do you think you're doing? You're an idiot!" (not my finest moment and probably very unwise but I was so shocked), although I think he thought better of it when he realised how many people were around. I was walking away by then, trying to calm myself down (had horrid heart palpitations - probably due to the adrenaline!) and just get away from the situation.

A couple of women (separately) caught up to me to see if I was ok/say they'd seen what happened/congratulate me on pulling him up on it - which was very kind, but I am still super tearful and shaken up. I'm a 42 yr old woman, FFS, really need to get a grip, have a glass of wine and forget about it.

Pre covid i was walking to work along a busy dual carriageway. I do walk very fast but there was a man plodding along in frount of me in the middle of the pavement. I said excuse me so i could get by but he didn't move so assuming he'd not heard me i waited for a break in the trafic and stept into the road to jog past. A little way down the street i was suddenly shoved hard. The man had run to catch up with me and shoved me with great force into the road. He then continued running, turned a corner and continued to plod up the road at a snails pace. I was caught off guard and very shaken. I had absolutely no idea why a grown man would have shoved me into the road for simply overtaking him. I guess insulted his masculinity. Some people are simply A Holes. Yanbu to be shaken up. Hope your ok

Well done op. You've done all you can to get this scumbag traced. I hope you can relax a little and put it behind you now. Enjoy your wine

You need to contact Tescos. They probably have it on CCTV. These unprovoked attacks are really dangerous. He might seriously injure or even kill his next random victim.

How horrible. Hope you are ok. I doubt it was the first time he’s done this and it probably won’t be the last. I hope he is caught. My brother was punched in the face walking along the street a couple of years ago. Literally minding his own business and a man just punched him and ran off. Just can’t understand people like that. I’m glad you’ve reported.

@TheSockMonster

I hope they find him. Bastard.

I also wonder why. I suppose it’s party some sort of personality disorder / low impulse control - but then they have enough control not to let loose on someone bigger and stronger.

I guess their impulse control has levels set based on the likelihood of the other person retaliating and causing them damage . I may not be tiny - but certainly was not a threat to him, hence why I felt the sharp end of his arm. Rather glad I screamed down the aisle at him now!

Well done you! that's sounds horrific. it takes a while to process stuff like that and get over the immediate shock...I wouldnt have even been able to think clearly in the shop to report it etc then. i am glad you have wine, support at home and have received validation on here that it was assault, and reporting it is the best thing.

Well done OP

I’m so sorry this happened to you Op. definitely call the police. It’s assault.

Tbh I’d have no qualms about turning on the waterworks there and then and making a scene.

With a bit of luck they'll use cctv to
Work out the till he used and he paid by card.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

The good thing about reporting is that they may be able to track him round the store and then trace him via his Clubcard / payment card at the till.

What an arsehole.

So sorry to hear that, it was definitely an assault and the police should be investigating him.
He may be an alpha male but he is also a misogynistic coward.

@Vinosaurus - well done -absolutely the right thing to have done

I see you’ve already reported. Well done OP. I really hope they find the fucker.

Well done on reporting him.

Be kind to yourself over the next few days. Being assaulted is a hideous thing and you're not needing to get a grip in any way at all. Give yourself time to process and get over it.

I'm sorry, it must have been shocking & painful. How are you feeling physically now?

Well done on reporting to T & P.

Well done for reporting op I hope you are ok now

Good for you reporting him. I'm so pleased that both the Police and Tesco responded so positively.

Take care.

Tbh I’d have no qualms about turning on the waterworks there and then and making a scene.

I go into "everything's fiiiine, nothing to see here, thanks for the nice words, as you were" mode - it's my default. I even did this in Aldi (I don't have much luck with supermarkets) when I slipped and hurt my leg so badly I ended up with a load of titanium in it to hold it together, I refused an ambulance and hobbled back. I know - ridiculous really, maybe I've been affected by the British stiff upper lip thing more than I realise.

I'm so glad you reported this. It's good you've got someone at home with you, you may get quite shaky later.

I go into "everything's fiiiine, nothing to see here, thanks for the nice words, as you were" mode - it's my default.

It’s female conditioning. We are trained to minimise our hurt and not be “hysterical”, not cause a scene. It’s easy for me to say what I would do. In reality it’s what I’d hope to do. Faced with that situation none of us know how we’d react until it happens. Your reaction wasnt wrong. You were faced with a large violent man who was threatening more violence by squaring up to you, you needed to reduce your risk of further harm and you did. You keep yourself safe.

I'm sorry, it must have been shocking & painful. How are you feeling physically now?

A bit sore - but not too bad, Thankyou for asking.

I’m so glad you yelled at him and that you’ve called the police. He needs to know he hasn’t the right to mete out punches. As you said - his poor wife/family. Let’s hope he doesn’t have one.

Hope you're feeling better, OP, that sounds really frightening and horrible. Well done for yelling and well done for calling the police and the supermarket. You might have helped it not happen to someone else.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope the shop has good CCTV and they get him.

Take care of yourself. Someone acting way out of the bounds of normal behaviour like that is a real shock to the system.