Daniel O'Donnell subjected ex to torrent of abuse

A judge told Daniel O'Donnell his offending had been so serious there was no other way he could deal with him other than send him to immediate custody. 

Philip Brunt, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court, said O'Donnell and the victim entered into a relationship but within months he was given a two-year suspended sentence for threatening to destroy her property, as well as for possession of a blade. 

As part of that sentence O'Donnell was given a restraining order to have no contact with the victim for five years  - but the court heard O'Donnell went on to breach it regularly.

JAILED: Daniel O'Donnell (Image: West Mercia Police)

The prosecutor told the court O'Donnell had threatened to break the victim's jaw; forced her to leave her job in Birmingham to work closer to Worcester; hit her causing bruises; told her to send photographers to prove where she was and gave her a list of rules she had to follow.

In one message O'Donnell sent to her he said: "I know you will keep coming back and do as I say."

The court heard the offending culminated on March 2, 2022, when the pair met up at a Travelodge in Tewskebury. 

ASSAULT: Travelodge, Tewkesbury (Image: Google)

Mr Brunt said, after trying to cut off a GPS tag he was wearing as part of a curfew he had been given, he kicked the victim before shoving her onto a bed.

"He spat in her face," Mr Brunt said. 

"He then started to strangle her. 

"She thought she was going to die, she could not breathe."

The court heard, after managing to distract the defendant, the victim was able to escape. 

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In her personal statement the victim said her mental health suffered as a result of the abusive relationship and she had been forced to take months off work due to her anxiety. 

The victim added the ordeal had taken away two years of her life. 

O'Donnell admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breaching the restraining order in November 2021 and the day of the assault.

COURT: Daniel O'Donnell. pictured leaving court after an earlier hearing (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Niall Skinner, defending, said what had taken place had been "unpleasant and ugly". 

He said the victim had instigated contact but O'Donnell knew he should not have engaged.

The court heard the relationship had ended a year ago and in that time there had been no further contact with O'Donnell staying out of trouble. 

Mr Skinner added the defendant, who has been working as a labourer, had abused alcohol at the time leading to losses of temper but now rarely drank alcohol. 

O'Donnell showed no reaction as he was jailed for three years and six months on Thursday, (May 25).

The judge said time spent on remand in custody and on curfew would count towards a reduction in that period.