A Darlington violent thug with a history of domestic abuse tried to blame his latest attack on a neighbour resulting in him being arrested by armed police.
Daniel Conroy smashed the woman over the head leaving her dazed and confused during an unprovoked attack in their home.
The 29-year-old told police that a neighbour had threatened to kill his partner and their dog, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Ian West, prosecuting, said the neighbour was held in custody for several hours accused of attempted murder before the defendant’s claims started to unravel.
“There appears to have been some row going on as just before midnight the neighbour rang the police to stay there was some sort of disturbance going on – the police did not attend,” he said.
“At 3.43am the victim called the police and said the neighbour had been threatening her and it seems that was put up by the defendant – the police did not attend.
“The next call to the police was at 5.29am made by the defendant when the assault took place. The victim described what happened in her police interview, she said she asked the defendant for a cup of water and ‘he just went on one’.
“She continued ‘he was punching everything; I didn’t have a clue what he was saying and then I felt a hit to my head – I haven’t got a clue what he had in his hand’.”
The court heard how the woman was repeatedly hit to the head before Conroy called the police and blamed the next-door neighbour.
The defendant said the neighbour hit his partner with the back of a knife and made several threats.
Armed police arrested and charged the neighbour before he was eventually released when the truth was revealed.
Conroy, of Clifton Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and unlawful wounding as a result of his attack in the early hours of May 18 last year.
He also admitted an assault by beating on the same woman from January 2025.
Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client has a longstanding alcohol problem which has fuelled his violent behaviour towards women.
“There was a flurry of offending relating to relationships in 2020 and 2021 and now we have this offence,” she said. “It may not come as a surprise for you to hear that alcohol has been his problem and the trigger for his offending.”
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Recorder Nathan Nixon sentenced Conroy to a total of 35 months for all offences after learning about his similar previous offending for domestic violence.
“She suffered a wound to her which resulted in significant bleeding,” he said. “I have seen the photographs of her injuries and after the blood was cleared up.
“She suffered a fractured finger as she had used her hand to break her fall. She also suffered bruising and a bite mark to her arm.”
Conroy was also issued with a restraining order to protect his victim.
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