DELIVERY DRIVER DANIEL BECKETT SENTENCED FOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE
A domestic abuser's crimes were revealed after he crashed into his neighbors' cars while more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.Delivery driver Daniel Beckett was responsible for a vicious assault on his wife, which only stopped when his nine-year-old stepdaughter pleaded with him to cease attacking her mother.He had previously broken his stepfather's back, which resulted in him nearly losing his livelihood after almost 50 years of work.
The incident occurred following a police attendence at Sandy Lane in Warrington around 10 pm on January 11 last year, after a member of the public reported Beckett's BMW 320d had collided with multiple vehicles near his then address.
Upon locating him, police also received reports of assaulting his wife.The prosecution described how Vicky Beckett, his partner, reported that he had "elbowed her, dragged her around, and pushed her" onto a bed before placing both hands around her neck, making her feel as if she was going to die.
The assault was triggered after she rejected his sexual advances.
Beckett also punched her, but stopped when their daughter intervened and told him to stop.
Subsequently, he dragged her from the bed and strangled her again.
During the incident, she hid his keys to prevent him from driving while drunk, but he took a spare and drove away.After his arrest, tests revealed Beckett had a blood alcohol level of 157mg per 100 ml of breath, well above the legal limit of 35mg.He was released on bail under a condition not to contact his wife and then stayed with his mother and stepfather, John O'Reilly, at Whitecross Road.
However, on July 25, 2024, he returned heavily intoxicated, with a black eye, and began causing a scene, attacking stepfather Mr.
O'Reilly by headbutting him, causing serious injuries.
Mr.
O'Reilly suffered a fractured vertebra, lost a tooth, and broke a finger, and expressed his heartbreak over the violence, saying: "I see Daniel as my son.
This has really upset me.
I can't understand why he's assaulted me." Beckett also mentioned that he had struggled with social anxiety and alcohol use as coping mechanisms, working long hours as a DHL driver to support his family.The court found Beckett guilty of intentional strangulation and assault by beating after a trial, but he admitted to unlawful wounding and drink driving.
On sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones stated: "Quite clearly, on that night, you were very, very drunk.
The same applied some months later with the incident involving your stepfather.
When you are in drink, your problem is that you become involved in incidents with those near and dear to you." Beckett was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.
The judge acknowledged that Beckett showed genuine remorse, noting that he has not seen his wife since the incident and has been separated from his children for over seven months.
Beckett's previous convictions include three drink-driving offences.
His defense attorney mentioned that in sobriety, he is a good father and husband, but alcohol and social anxiety heavily impact him, leading to these violent incidents.
