Darlington man jailed after screwing front door shut and attacking woman

A man who screwed a front door shut before attacking a woman has been jailed.

Danny Oxley had spent the evening drinking with the woman in Darlington before heading back to her flat where he screwed the front door shut, claiming it was “to keep police out”.

After an argument broke out, he grabbed the woman around her neck as she tried to escape and launched himself at her, causing her to hit her head against a wall.

The attack happened just three days after the 32-year-old had been arrested following reports of a domestic incident, during which he kicked a police officer in the stomach as they detained him.

Oxley was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was also charged with possession of a bladed article and using threatening words or behaviour following an incident in which he threatened to kill his neighbours on Barden Moor Road, in Darlington, on September 3 last year.

Oxley pleaded guilty to all offences and appeared via video link at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (May 7) where he was jailed for two years and eight months.

He was also made subject of a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the woman for ten years.

If you are suffering domestic abuse, there are people who can and will help you.

Call 101, or 999 if you are in immediate danger.

Reports can also be made online at www.durham.police.uk

If you don’t want to speak to the police, there are other helplines available:

• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.
• The local service, Harbour, is also available 24 hours a day on 03000 20 25 25.

The above services support both men and women.