DANIEL WHELAN'S BRUTAL ATTACK IN NORTHAMPTON LEADS TO NEARLY 3 YEARS IN PRISON

The courageous efforts of a domestic abuse survivor have been widely commended after her detailed testimony contributed to the conviction and imprisonment of her former partner, Daniel Whelan. The incident, which took place in Northampton, has brought to light the severity of domestic violence and the importance of victim bravery in seeking justice.

On the early morning of January 27 last year, Daniel Whelan, aged 29, launched a violent assault on the woman he had been involved with. This attack occurred just four days after Whelan was released from a seven-year prison sentence for grievous bodily harm inflicted on another woman. The timing of his release and subsequent violence has raised concerns about the risks posed by individuals with a history of violent offenses.

During the harrowing hour-long assault, the woman endured multiple forms of abuse. She recounted to police that Whelan raped her, strangled her, and repeatedly struck her face, resulting in injuries to her face and neck that necessitated hospital treatment. Her quick thinking and resilience allowed her to escape the ordeal and seek help from a neighbor, who promptly called emergency services by dialing 999.

The subsequent investigation by Northamptonshire Police uncovered further disturbing details of Whelan’s abusive behavior. The woman disclosed that she had woken up on several occasions to find Whelan engaging in sexual acts with her without her consent. She also provided police with recordings of phone calls in which Whelan expressed violent intentions, including a desire to attack her with acid and threats to kill her. Additionally, she revealed a Snapchat voice note from Whelan, in which he explicitly stated his plans to abduct and rape another woman.

Based on these revelations, Whelan was formally charged with multiple offenses. The charges included three counts of rape, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), one count of intentional strangulation, and one count of sending a communication of an indecent or offensive nature.

At a court hearing on August 8, Whelan admitted to the assault charge related to the incident on January 27 and to sending the offensive messages. However, he denied the rape charges, leading to a trial on those allegations. After a thorough legal process, Whelan was found not guilty of the rape charges on November 25 but was convicted of the assault and strangulation offenses.

On December 3, Whelan, formerly residing on Newport Pagnell Road in Northampton, appeared before Northampton Crown Court to be sentenced. The court handed down a total prison term of two years and eleven months. In addition to his imprisonment, Whelan was subjected to an indefinite restraining order, which prohibits him from approaching or contacting the survivor by any means, ensuring her safety and peace of mind moving forward.