OFFENDER STEVEN FILES JAILED FOR ASSAULT ON EX-GIRLFRIEND IN DARLINGTON
A man described as an “extremely dangerous” abuser caused serious injuries to his ex-girlfriend by forcibly splitting the inside of her mouth, months after being released from prison for a prior assault.Steven Files targeted the woman at her residence on July 14, after a day of heavy drinking while watching England’s loss in the Euro 2024 final.
During a violent outburst fueled by jealousy, he grabbed her by the neck.
She managed to escape and was shouting for help when Files forced his fingers into her mouth and pulled her face backward, resulting in a severe cut inside her mouth.
Additionally, he took her phone and ripped out her hair extensions.
In her victim impact statement, she reported suffering from anxiety and depression, stating that everyday tasks often seem overwhelming.
She described how the assault shattered her confidence and self-esteem, leaving her physically injured and emotionally distressed.
Neighbours called the police, who found her bloodied in her Darlington home.
Files, a father of two, was detained and claimed the injuries were self-inflicted, but a court found him guilty after a trial at the magistrates’ court.
He appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
The court was told he had previously served 64 weeks in 2023 following an incident where he strangled, punched, and threw the woman across a room at his Thirsk residence.
His defense solicitor mentioned his military service as a king’s soldier with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that he suffers from PTSD, which was linked to his erratic behaviour.
Detective Sergeant Joanne Days from the Darlington Safeguarding Team described Files as “an extremely dangerous individual whose actions could have led to tragedy.
He inflicted both physical and emotional scars on this woman, which will require significant time and treatment to heal.” The woman’s statement detailed her physical injuries and the ongoing emotional trauma resulting from the attack, including damage to her mouth, hair, and mental health.
The court's verdict sent Files to prison for two years and four months.
Further details about the case are available through the provided link.
