Restraining order imposed to protect woman after town-centre assault

A man who grabbed a woman by the neck and dragged her around the street has been sentenced.

Daniel Alexander O’Donnell, 29, from Hindley Green, Wigan, was convicted of assault at York Magistrates Court, and a restraining order put in place to protect the victim.

On 12 March 2022, O’Donnell visited Richmond in North Yorkshire for a night out. Following a disagreement at a pub, he was seen to grab and assault a woman in the town’s market place. Shocked onlookers tried to intervene, after seeing him “rag her about”, drag her along the street, and grab her in a choke hold.

They then got into a taxi and O’Donnell continued to shout and swear at her. When they arrived, a witness described the victim as distraught, shaking and petrified, and called the police. O’Donnell was arrested by North Yorkshire Police officers and remanded in custody.

O’Donnell pleaded guilty to assault last month, and was sentenced on Monday 4 April. The court ordered that he carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, participate in rehabilitation activity for 30 days, pay compensation of £75, and costs and a victim surcharge totalling £180. The court also imposed a three-year restraining order to protect the victim.

DC Holly Grosvenor, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I would like to thank everyone who came forward to speak to the police about this incident, and took the time to provide statements. We were able to ensure the victim received support from specialist services, and protect her through court bail conditions and now a restraining order. Violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in North Yorkshire.”