DARRAN READ FROM SUNDERLAND SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR BRUTAL ATTACK IN SUNDERLAND
In November 2019, a man named Darran Read, aged 37 and hailing from Sunderland, was handed a significant prison sentence following a violent and disturbing assault that left his victim severely injured.Read, who had a history of convictions related to sexual offenses against children, committed a brutal attack on a woman he had taken home from a nightclub in Sunderland, an incident that shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation.
According to court reports, Read's assault involved the use of a saucepan, which he wielded during a terrifying outburst of violence.
The woman, a mother in her forties, was knocked unconscious during the attack, which was so severe that she believed she was on the brink of death.
The assault left her with multiple injuries, including wounds to her head, a fractured hand, a possible fracture to her arm, as well as extensive bruising and swelling.
The victim later recounted her ordeal, describing how she feared for her life and believed she might not survive.
After the attack, Read left his victim lying in a pool of blood.
Demonstrating a disturbing level of callousness, he then proceeded to bathe, clean himself up, and continue drinking alcohol for several hours.
It was only after this prolonged period that he called emergency services for help.
The victim, in her distress, managed to pick up a letter belonging to Read and placed it in her handbag, a strategic move intended to help authorities identify her attacker once she was found and her body recovered.
The court heard that the woman, who was in her forties and had initially believed Read to be charming and pleasant during their initial meeting at a nightclub, was subjected to a horrifying ordeal that she described as the most horrific time of her life.
She expressed her devastation in a victim impact statement, stating, “I am absolutely distraught at what Darran Read has done to me.
This started off as me going out with friends and I met him in a bar.
I was expecting to go back to his home for a drink.
It was only for a drink.
He then attacked me in what was the most horrific time of my life.
I truly believe he was trying to kill me.” Her injuries required hospital treatment, and she was unable to care for herself for days due to her injuries, which included arms in casts and blood-matted hair.
She also reported ongoing pain in her head from being battered with a saucepan.
Her account underscored the severity of the attack and the lasting impact it had on her life.
During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court in May, Read faced multiple charges, including attempted murder, rape, and false imprisonment.
However, after a week-long trial, the jury acquitted him of attempted murder, two counts of rape, and false imprisonment.
Read claimed that the woman had asked him for “rough sex,” which he argued was the basis for his actions.
Despite this, he was found guilty of wounding with intent.
It was revealed that Read had previous convictions for violence and indecent assault on children in 1996 and 1997, which added to concerns about his dangerousness.
Judge Paul Sloan QC sentenced Read to 14 years in prison, emphasizing the serious risk he posed to the public.
The judge also imposed an extended four-year license period following his release, reflecting the ongoing concern for community safety.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Sloan described the attack as a “horrendous” event, noting that Read’s violent rage was triggered unexpectedly.
The judge stated, “Whatever it was that triggered your violence, I have no doubt, on the evidence I heard at trial, that you flew into a particularly violent rage.
She described it as horrendous.
She thought she was going to die.
You initially thought you had killed her.” The judge highlighted the victim’s presence of mind in grabbing a letter from the floor and placing it in her handbag, a crucial piece of evidence that could lead authorities back to Read’s address.
The court also considered the prolonged hours between the attack and the arrival of emergency services, which extended the victim’s suffering.
Judge Sloan concluded that Read’s actions and the subsequent risk he posed justified the lengthy prison sentence, ensuring he would be detained for a significant period to protect the community from further harm.
