MATTHEW “MATTY” HAYMER – DARLINGTON, NORTHEAST

Matthew Haymer’s violent history spans more than a decade of abuse, robbery and repeated offending

His history of violence and abuse stretches back more than ten years, with convictions involving domestic violence, assault, coercive control, intimidation, robbery and repeated prison sentences.

In 2012, one of his former partners publicly revealed the terrifying abuse she suffered during their relationship, describing how he manipulated, controlled and violently attacked her until she feared he would kill her.

She said she had been deeply in love with him and believed he was kind, funny and loving, while family and friends saw a darker side — controlling, manipulative and dangerous.

After just a few months together, she later realised she had become “a puppet” while Haymer was the “puppet-master,” saying he had full control over her life.

She had previously been banned from seeing him after an earlier incident in July when she was found unconscious at the bottom of the stairs and taken to hospital. At the time she was unsure what had happened, but later became convinced Haymer had pushed her down the stairs, causing serious spinal damage.

Despite warnings from family, he continued contacting her, calling, texting and even sneaking into her mother’s house while everyone was asleep.

The victim said they had recently suffered the heartbreak of losing a baby through miscarriage, and she believed she needed him by her side. Although he appeared supportive in hospital, she later realised it was only for show.

Weeks later, after agreeing to meet him again, a minor argument quickly turned violent.

She said Haymer pushed her off his knee, threw her onto a bed, pinned her down by the wrists and screamed abuse at her, calling her “fat, ugly, cheap and desperate.”

He bit her arm, pulled her hair, threw her to the floor and picked up a chair, threatening to strike her over the head.

She said she genuinely believed he was going to die that night.

His friend intervened and told him to stop, allowing her to escape onto the landing.

At that moment, she said she suddenly realised what had happened weeks earlier — that he had pushed her down the stairs during the earlier attack.

She ran from the house, but Haymer chased after her.

He pushed her over a garden wall, tightened his grip on her and followed her into a pub where she hoped she would be safe.

Instead, he dragged her to the floor, kicked her and shouted abuse including: “Who would want you? You should be ashamed of yourself.”

He then grabbed her by the neck and strangled her until she could barely breathe.

Her life was only saved when someone intervened and struck Haymer, partially slicing off part of his ear while stopping the attack.

She later said the physical injuries healed, but the emotional scars never disappeared.

Eventually she found the strength to go to police, testify in court and secure his conviction. Haymer was later jailed for assault and for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Years later, in 2018, Haymer was back before the courts again — this time for a robbery involving threats of an acid attack.

He travelled from Darlington to a Coral betting shop in Durham, pretending to be a customer until staff and customers had left.

Carrying an open bottle containing what was described as a “murky liquid,” he approached the lone female assistant and handed her a note threatening to throw acid in her face if she refused to hand over cash.

Terrified, the worker handed him £628.

He was arrested the following day after a police officer recognised him on CCTV.

Haymer admitted the robbery and was originally jailed for 49 months, later reduced to three years and eight months after the court reviewed his guilty plea discount.

But despite prison sentences and convictions, concerns over domestic abuse did not stop there.

People who know him say he later returned to prison again after allegedly beating another partner in front of their children, leading to further police involvement and renewed fears for women around him.

Locals in Darlington have described him as someone who has been “in and out of prison for the last 10 years,” warning others to be extremely cautious.

Former victims and those close to them say his pattern has remained the same throughout the years — coercive control, violence, strangulation, intimidation and fear behind closed doors.

His case has led many to call for greater awareness of Clare’s Law, which allows people to ask police if a current or former partner has a history of violence or abuse.

Supporters say Matthew Haymer’s long history shows exactly why Clare’s Law exists — to help prevent future victims before abuse turns into something far worse.