A MASKED man who viciously attacked his innocent victim over a drug row has been jailed for 18 months.

Crack cocaine addict Leroy Hewitt grabbed the man by the throat before dragging him into a flat before punching and threatening his victim.

Hewitt was one of three men who turned up at some flats on Woodland Terrace, Darlington, pictured below, looking for a drug dealer who had sold his co-accused some 'poor quality' cocaine.

The 41-year-old was joined in the enterprise by his co-accused Dean Nicholson, who was jailed last week for his look-out role in the assault, and another unidentified man, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The Northern Echo:

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Hewitt and the other man left the victim so terrified that he was forced to climb out of a third floor window and jump to safety.

She said the man, who had nothing to do with the drugs, suffered life-changing injuries, including broken back, broken leg and facial injuries.

Hewitt, of Pateley Moor Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm following the attack on August 23 last year.

His barrister, Brian Russell told the court that Hewitt was taking full advantage of his time in custody to tackle his drug problem and hopes to rebuild his life once he is released.

"He sees his time in custody as something of a Godsend," he added. "He has realised that drugs really do wreck his life."

The defendant read out a letter to Judge Paul Watson QC expressing his regret at the injuries his victim suffered.

Jailing him for 18 months, the judge said: "He was physically dragged upstairs, attacked and threatened, he was so frightened he ran out, jumped onto a roof and then jumped about 20 ft down onto the floor where he very seriously hurt.

"He felt he had no option because he had to get away from you and the other man. As a result he suffered very serious injuries."

  • Nicholson, of Flamingo Close, Darlington, was jailed for 12 months last month.