❌ DARREN BENSON – COUNTY DURHAM ❌
Please apply for Clare’s Law if you or anyone you know has had any involvement with this man. He poses a serious risk to women and has a documented history of violent, coercive, and dangerous behaviour.
🔴 JAILED: Violent Assault & Witness Intimidation
Darren Benson, 22, of no fixed abode, has been jailed for five years and four months after subjecting a woman to a prolonged, violent assault that left her unconscious and with severe facial injuries.
The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday, May 26, at a home in Chester-le-Street. Emergency services were called to the scene, where paramedics found the victim bleeding heavily, semi-conscious, and in a state of extreme distress. She was immediately taken to hospital, where she was treated for extensive injuries including facial fractures, bruising, and signs of blunt-force trauma.
💔 Victim’s Ordeal
According to the victim’s statement, the assault came after months of coercive control, intimidation, and emotional abuse. On the night of the attack, Benson flew into a violent rage after accusing her of speaking to another man. She was punched multiple times in the face, thrown against a wall, and eventually knocked unconscious.
The victim said:
“I thought I was going to die that night. The way he looked at me — cold, like I was nothing. He kept hitting me while I was screaming and bleeding. I tried to crawl away but he pulled me back by my hair. I begged him to stop. I couldn’t see out of one eye. I thought I’d never see my family again.”
She also reported that after regaining consciousness, she was terrified he would come back and finish what he started. She now suffers with anxiety, flashbacks, and is receiving ongoing therapy for trauma and PTSD.
⚖️ Court & Sentencing
- Benson pleaded guilty at Durham Crown Court to:
- Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)
- Affray
- Witness intimidation
- Later that same day, he threatened another man at the same address with a knife
- Was found nearby in a vehicle and arrested by police
- Has a history of violence, with police previously involved in other domestic incidents
He has now been issued with a 20-year restraining order against both victims.
🚨 Police Statement
“Darren Benson thought he could do what he wanted and get away with it, but he couldn’t. This was a terrifying ordeal for both victims, which has had a lasting impact. I hope this outcome at court will provide some closure for them in order to move forward with their lives.”
– Detective Constable Christopher Spence, Durham Constabulary
⚠️ NOTE: Reports have surfaced that Benson may be attempting to use social media from inside jail. His known profiles have been flagged in the comments.