Brute smashed up new girlfriend’s car
A bully who was previously jailed for hacking-off his ex’s hair proved he’d failed to learn his lesson by smashing up his new girlfriend’s car.
Darren Rudd was locked up in 2018 for subjecting a woman to a campaign of violence and psychological abuse, which included holding a knife to her throat and threatening to poison her children.
The 34-year-old was handed a threeyear sentence after he admitted controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship. However, just eight months after his release, the thug proved he hadn’t changed his ways.
A court heard that Rudd had a new girlfriend, who’d stood by him while he served his jail term, but they split in October 2021.
Just days later, Rudd turned up at the woman’s address in the middle of the night and took exception when he was refused entry.
Magistrates heard that Rudd pulled the wing mirrors off the victim’s car and threw a wheelie bin at the windscreen, causing it to smash. In total, he caused nearly £800worth of damage.
Rudd, of Tumulus Avenue, in Walker, was arrested and appeared in the dock to plead guilty to criminal damage.
The court heard that Rudd turned up at the victim’s address in the early hours of the morning on October 28 last year but was refused entry.
James Long, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, said: “[The victim] says she’s going to call the police. The defendant then said he was going ‘to do’ her address and car. She felt petrified so stayed on the phone to the police. He walks towards the exit of the estate and off he goes. She goes outside and sees the damage to her vehicle, which is to the wing mirrors and windscreen.”
Magistrates were told that an eye witness, who lived across the road, saw Rudd pulling the wing mirrors off and throwing a wheelie bin at the windscreen. In an emotional statement, which the victim read to the court, she said Rudd’s actions proved he’d failed to learn his lesson and he was still a threat to women.
She added: “Darren made me feel unsafe in my own home. I have difficulty sleeping at night time and I have panic attacks when I hear loud noises.”
Michael Crowe, defending, said Rudd had acted petulantly and impulsively after the victim refused to speak to him. Mr Crowe added: “He very foolishly decided to go to the complaint’s home at an untimely hour with the intention of discussing domestic matters. He acknowledges the foolishness of that and regrets his decision.”
Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Rudd will be back before the same court on April 21 and was given conditional bail.