Darlington thug threatened to kill neighbours with knife

Danny Oxley grabbed his partner around the neck as she tried to flee her flat before he dragged her back inside the property and ‘launched' himself at her, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 32-year-old’s attack caused the woman to hit her head against the wall leaving her with a gash above her eyebrow which required gluing at hospital after they had spent the night drinking together in Darlington.

Jessica Butterell, prosecuting, said the attack happened three days after the defendant was arrested following reports of a domestic incident and he kicked a police officer in the arrest as they tried to get him into the van.

Miss Butterell told the court that the defendant was also arrested after he threatened to kill his neighbours whilst armed with a knife after a confrontation on Barden Moore Road, Darlington, on September 3 last year.

She said: “He was arrested that same day and was still intoxicated. He was still threatening to kill his neighbours and his windows were broken.”

CCTV footage from the area showed Oxley carrying the knife in public but he didn’t move towards those he was threatening.

Danny Oxley (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Oxley, of no fixed abode but formerly Darlington, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, using threatening words or behaviour, assaulting an emergency worker, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Kelleigh Lodge, mitigating, said her client has significant mental health issues and reacted to threats being made against him when he picked up the knife.

"He was the victim of an assault that affected his mental health - threats were made against him and the police assisted him in moving out of the area,” she said.

Judge Richard Bennett sentenced Oxley to a total of 34 months for all offences.

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Dealing with the knife offence, the judge said: “You were seen behaving aggressively and acting erratically. You were bare-chested and waving the knife around while threatening to stab people.

You had disposed of the knife in the house but you were still threatening to stab people when the police arrived.”

Oxley was made the subject of a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the woman for 10 years.

The judge added: “You grabbed her and placed your hands around her neck. You launched yourself at her which caused her to lose her balance and hit her head against the wall.”