Girlfriend's hour-long terror ride at hands of 'madman' driver

A brute who took his girlfriend on a one-hour terror ride where he drove like a "madman" with one hand and attacked her with the other has been behind bars.
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David Leyden, who was "drunk" and drinking a can of Stella, forced the mum-of-three into his car when he saw her in the street on the way to a friend's house and subjected her to an ordeal that left her in fear for her life.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 27-year-old hit his terrified victim across the head, pulled at her hair and tore out the extensions, slammed her face into the dashboard and kicked her to the ground with his rigger boots when she tried to escape.

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In a statement after the ordeal, the victim said: "I have never felt as frightened in my whole life.

Newcastle Crown Court. Newcastle Crown Court.
Newcastle Crown Court.

"How he didn't kill us both I will never know.

"This will take me a very long time to recover from.

"All I was thinking about was my children not being able to see their mother again."

Prosecutor Anthony Pettengell told the court the couple had been dating for about a year but the relationship had started to deteriorate by July last year.

David Leyden.David Leyden.
David Leyden.

Mr Pettengell said the victim had organised a babysitter so she could visit a friend's house when she saw Leyden pull up in the car and he forced her in.

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He added: "He appeared angry she had decided to go out with her friend an started to hit her across the head while driving, calling her a **** and started to pull her hair.

"She was terrified, she couldn't get out of the car because he had locked the door.

"She repeatedly asked him to take her home and told him she wouldn't go out with her friend but he refused."

The court heard when the victim's mobile phone rang Leyden grabbed it and threw it from the window but then agreed to park up, with her still locked inside, to get it back and then drove off again.

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Mr Pettengell said Leyden continued to pull the victim's hair, call her names, and ripped out her hair extensions.

He added: "He forced her head into the dashboard and he continued to assault her while he drove around in a reckless manner for over an hour."

The court heard Lyden stopped the car after it appeared to develop a fault and the victim was able to run from it.

But he added: "He ran after her, kicking her in the left knee area, causing her to fall to the ground. He was still wearing work clothes and large rigger boots when he kicked her to the ground."

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The court heard Leyden "dragged" the woman back into the car.

Mr Pettengell added: "She was crying, very frightened and at one point thought he was going to kill her.

"Her head was scratched, she had blood running down her face, as well as tears, as she begged him to take her home."

The court heard Leyden eventually took his victim home when he heard sirens approaching.

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Mr Pettengell said the woman had bruising and soreness after the ordeal and added: "She describes being in fear for her life and said he was driving like a madman, driving with one hand while assaulting her."

Leyden, of Crofton Street, South Shields, admitted assault.

Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced him to 13 months behind bars.

The judge told him: "Not surprisingly that woman has suffered deep trauma psychologically.

"She thought she was going to die that night. She thought she was going to leave her three children motherless.

"I can't think of a much else that would be more scary for someone."

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Jamie Adams, defending, said Leyden is considered by those who know him, who have given him "superb" references, to show "kindness and gentleness" and be always willing to help people.

Mr Adams said Leyden has a good work record in the building trade and is "poised to change" and willing to be rehabilitated.