JASON DRIVER TERRORIZES WOMAN IN REDCAR HOME AFTER TRIP FROM MIDDLESBROUGH

In May 2020, a harrowing incident unfolded in Redcar where Jason Driver, a 40-year-old man, subjected a woman to a brutal and prolonged assault within the confines of her own home. The attack, which lasted several hours, left the victim deeply traumatized and fearing for her life, ultimately causing her to flee in a state of hysteria.

The woman, a vulnerable mother, recounted the terrifying ordeal in a heartfelt statement read aloud in court. She described how the assault had shattered her sense of strength and independence, transforming her from a resilient woman into someone feeling utterly broken. Her words conveyed the profound emotional and physical scars left by Driver’s violent actions.

The incident originated after Driver traveled from his residence in Cambridgeshire to Middlesbrough to see her, despite their brief one-month relationship. The confrontation began following a disagreement that arose after they met some of her friends on February 8. The court heard that tensions escalated quickly, leading to a physical altercation.

According to prosecutor Rachel Masters, the woman attempted to diffuse the situation by putting her arm around Driver in an effort to comfort and calm him. However, this gesture was met with hostility. Driver’s behavior rapidly deteriorated as he 'flipped,' spat in her face, and then escalated to a violent assault. He wrapped a belt around her neck and pressed on her windpipe, causing her immense fear that he intended to kill her.

The assault was relentless, with Driver hitting her with the belt, chasing her through the house, pinning her down, twisting her neck, and instructing her to sit in a corner. At one point, he pushed his thumbs into her lips to prevent her from screaming, which resulted in her teeth piercing her lips. Despite her pleas for him to stop and let her go, Driver continued his assault, pushing her back into what she described as a 'prison-like' bedroom.

Throughout the ordeal, the victim’s one-year-old child was crying in a cot nearby, adding to the chaos and distress of the situation. The woman managed to muster enough strength to push Driver away with significant force, but he persisted in tormenting her. During the calmer moments, he alternated between anger and professed love, asking if she was still his 'queen' and if he could be her 'king.'

Eventually, she asked him to leave, but he refused and ignored taxis that arrived, prolonging her suffering. She was able to contact her mother, who arranged for a taxi, and Driver finally departed around 6 a.m. The woman, in a hysterical state, ran to a nearby shop to report the assault. She sustained bruising to her neck and cuts to her legs as a result of the attack.

Following his arrest, Driver claimed that she had attacked him during the six-hour argument, attempting to justify his actions. He admitted to assault causing actual bodily harm but had a long history of offenses, including 38 previous charges related to assault, domestic violence, witness intimidation, and breaching restraining orders. His criminal record spans from 1993 through 2019, with incidents occurring in various years, including recent offenses while he was under post-sentence supervision.

During the court hearing, Judge Paul Watson QC described Driver as 'institutionalized,' noting that prison had not been effective in rehabilitating him. The judge emphasized the severity of the attack, stating that it was unnecessary, prolonged, and violent, and that the victim had been led to fear for her life. Recognizing the lasting impact on her, the judge concluded that only a prison sentence was appropriate, sentencing Driver to one year in prison and imposing a three-year restraining order to protect the victim from further harm.