Court hears victim was strangled until she passed out
A violent thug who attacked a woman with a baseball bat before strangling her and keeping her hostage has been jailed.
Harrow Crown Court heard Darren Bell, 33, attacked his 27-year-old victim when she visited him at his flat in High Street, Harlesden, on October 10 last year.
The pair began to argue and Bell smashed the woman across a knee with a baseball bat before strangling her until she passed out.
He held her against her will for five days until she managed to escape when he was sleeping.
She raised the alarm and was taken to hospital where she was treated for a broken knee cap.
Bell, who has since moved to Thornton Heath, south London, was arrested.
Yesterday (Thursday), Bell was sentenced to seven years in jail after he was convicted of grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm at an earlier trial in August.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here