Driver who deliberately rammed car into man after woman battered windscreen with shoe is jailed

‘Walmsley’s actions were dangerous, reckless and put the lives of innocent people who were enjoying their evening at risk’

A dangerous driver who dragged a woman along a road by his car before deliberately ramming into her boyfriend has been jailed.

Daniel Walmsley was arrested after a video of him ploughing into the man, sending him flying into a lamppost in Newcastle city centre went viral on social media.

The footage, played in court, shows a woman taking off her stiletto and hitting a car windscreen with it during a row near the city’s popular Bigg Market nightspot last July.

Someone then jumps inside the vehicle and it suddenly lurches forward, knocking the woman to the ground as she clings on to the driver-side door.

The woman’s boyfriend then attempts to challenge the driver but the vehicle instead accelerates towards him.

The man is hurled across the street and sent flying into a lamppost before the driver speeds away from the scene.

A court heard how further CCTV footage showed the couple arguing with the driver in the moments leading up to the incident, before the driver pushed the woman to the ground and the rest of the event unfolded.

Police said the couple were able to walk away from the collision with no serious injuries and left before officers arrived.

The two victims were identified a day later but were not willing to support the investigation, police said.

Despite the setback, officers were later able to identify the driver as 29-year-old Walmsley.

Daniel Walmsley, 29, was jailed on 1 May 2020 for deliberately driving his car into a man following an argument at Newcastle's Bigg Market in July 2019. (Northumbria Police)

Walmsley, of no fixed address, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court in January where he admitted causing actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of driving without a licence, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was jailed for two years and one month at the same court on Friday and handed a driving ban for five years and two months.

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Phil Hoggins said: “This was a very high profile incident as video footage of the assault was shared thousands of times on social media.

“It took place on a busy Saturday in Newcastle in an area of the city centre that was packed with people enjoying a night out.

“Walmsley’s actions were dangerous, reckless and put the lives of innocent people who were enjoying their evening at risk.

“Using your vehicle as a weapon can have serious consequences and both victims in this case were extremely lucky not to suffer any serious injuries.

“In the end they did not want to support the police investigation but this case shows we will still pursue violent offenders who put the public at risk.

“We have excellent CCTV coverage in the city centre and there were a number of witnesses so we were able to gather the evidence we needed to secure a conviction.

“Now Walmsley has been sent to prison for his actions and I hope this sends a strong message to those who resort to such mindless violence.”