ANTHONY DAVIES FROM ESH WINNING SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN DURHAM

In December 2023, a disturbing incident of domestic violence unfolded in Esh Winning, involving Anthony Davies, a man with a troubling history of assault and coercive behavior. The incident culminated in a violent attack on his long-term partner, leaving her physically and emotionally scarred.

According to court proceedings at Durham Crown Court, Davies had gone to his partner’s residence in Esh Winning to carry out some flooring work. At the time, he was consuming lager throughout the day, which appeared to fuel the escalation of tensions. The couple’s relationship, already strained over the years, was marked by frequent disagreements, and on this particular evening, these disagreements erupted into violence.

Prosecutor Jonathan Gittins detailed that by 11:30 pm, Davies had left to purchase more alcohol for both himself and his partner. The situation worsened in the kitchen when his partner warned him that if he harmed her again, a family member would intervene. This remark seemed to provoke Davies, who responded with physical violence. He struck her multiple times in the face, causing her to hit her head on a door handle as she fell to the ground. The assault did not stop there; Davies also head-butted her, resulting in blood splattering across a nearby wall.

Further violence ensued when Davies pinned her against the fridge, with both hands around her throat, before lifting her off the ground. She managed to drop to the floor, regaining consciousness, but Davies continued to threaten her about contacting the police. The attack left her with visible injuries, including a cut over her eyelid, two black eyes, a red mark, and bruising across her head, neck, and body. Despite her initial fear and reluctance to involve authorities, she eventually contacted the police at 3:25 am.

Although she declined medical treatment the following day, her injuries persisted, prompting her to seek hospital care on December 5. She reported experiencing neck pain, difficulty swallowing, and a fear that she might have been killed during the assault. Her distress was compounded by receiving abusive messages from Davies, which led her to disclose previous incidents of violence, including one where he had stamped on her while wearing work boots. She also revealed a past episode where she was left unconscious and unable to leave her home for three months due to her injuries, but she was too frightened to report these incidents at the time.

The victim described the violence as having a profound impact on her life, leaving her in a state of constant fear and doubt about her safety. The court heard that Davies was arrested on December 12 and taken into custody. During police interviews, he admitted to causing her injuries but claimed it was in self-defense after she hit him with a spatula.

Initially, Davies, aged 38 and residing on College View, denied allegations of controlling and coercive behavior, non-fatal strangulation, and three counts of assault causing actual bodily harm. A trial was scheduled to commence on March 5, but in December, he changed his plea to guilty.

It was revealed that Davies had a criminal record with eight previous convictions for 14 offences, including battery and assault involving a former partner. His legal representative, Tony Davis, acknowledged from the outset that his client was aware he would face a custodial sentence. Davis explained that Davies, a skilled ground worker with a disposable income, had struggled with substance abuse, which contributed to his violent behavior. He emphasized that Davies did not wish to blame his partner for the toxicity of their relationship, stating, “He said she just, probably, went along with his behaviour.”

Mr. Davis also highlighted that Davies was remorseful, admitting that his actions had caused him to lose everything he valued. The defendant, who had a history of full-time employment and long working hours, had previously behaved recklessly, leading to conflicts and domestic violence. He expressed a desire to address his issues and acknowledged that his own behavior was the root cause of his downfall.

Judge Jo Kidd addressed Davies directly, noting his previous convictions and pattern of violence against women. She described his actions as persistent and severe, with the violence reaching the upper end of domestic abuse cases. The judge emphasized the extreme impact on the victim, including the humiliation of being spat at and the fear that she might die during the final assault.

In sentencing, Judge Kidd imposed a three-year prison term and issued a restraining order preventing Davies from contacting or approaching his victim until further notice. She also explained that, under current sentencing policies for domestic violence offenders, Davies would serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.