A controlling bully who forced his vulnerable partner to smoke crack cocaine before strangling her unconscious has been jailed for three years. Darren Hudson, aged 37, launched a campaign of violence against the woman after taking over her bank account and driving her children out of her home.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the 37-year-old repeatedly choked his victim, punched her, and attacked another man with a hammer in a separate bizarre incident.
Campaign of control began on Facebook
Outlining the case for the Crown, prosecutor Philip Vollans said that the victim – described as vulnerable due to her personal characteristics – met Darren Hudson on Facebook five years ago. The pair initially spoke online for a few months before starting a relationship.
However, Mr Vollans said that Hudson accused the woman of infidelity from the start and began exhibiting controlling behaviour, which left her with a feeling of worthlessness. The 37-year-old then moved in with the woman, causing her situation to deteriorate further.
Hudson constantly shouted at her, wouldn't let her eat with her children, and logged into her bank account to spend her money on alcohol and drugs, the court heard. As a result, the victim's children had to move in with their father, which the prosecution noted had a significant impact on her.
Forced to smoke crack cocaine
However, the worst was yet to come as Hudson turned violent. During one incident, he grabbed her and held her tightly, the court heard.
Prior to Christmas 2025, the defendant was in the house with his brother-in-law, consuming drugs and alcohol, said Mr Vollans. He accused the victim of having an affair with his brother-in-law. The defendant said, 'Sit on the floor', to which she complied. That was his degrading effect on her.
He prepared crack cocaine in his pipe and forced her to smoke it. She reported feeling horrible and scared, she'd never smoked it before. After the brother-in-law left, the woman retreated to her bedroom, but Hudson followed her.
There, he repeatedly punched her in the face and head before pulling her to the floor and strangling her with both hands around her neck. She described everything going dark, said Mr Vollans.
Hammer attack and second strangling
On February 3, an unrelated incident took place involving a man outside his place of work. Hudson approached him, mumbling and wielding a hammer, which he started swinging towards him, the court heard.
Two days later, Mr Vollans said Hudson again accused the victim of cheating before he grabbed her across the neck, with both hands, and started squeezing. Hudson also smashed the victim's phone and punched a hole in her wall.
Defending Hudson, Mr Thomas Duggan accepted that the custody threshold had been crossed by some margin, but stated his client was genuinely remorseful, regretful, and wishes he had made better decisions. Mr Duggan added that Hudson was upset because a letter he had written to the judge had not been delivered.
Previous convictions and sentencing
The court heard Hudson had 13 previous convictions for 19 offences between 2006 and 2024, including failing to comply with a restraining order in 2018.
Addressing the defendant, Recorder M Wheeler said: You started a relationship with the victim – it started off as a Facebook relationship and turned into a face-to-face, then a physical relationship. From the start, when you moved in, you exhibited elements of control. You took over her life and bank account and spent the money on drugs and alcohol.
The relationship degenerated into violence on your part. You forced her to smoke cocaine, causing her to feel terror. When she retired to the bedroom, you attacked her, punching her repeatedly to the head and face. You forced her to the floor and used both hands tightly around her neck. She thought everything went dark.
He added: On February 5, the second incident involving strangling took place, noting how Hudson squeezed her tightly. Recorder Wheeler described the separate hammer incident involving the man as bizarre.
At a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 9, Hudson pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place and two counts of criminal damage to property under £5,000. Then, on July 23, the first day that his trial was due to begin, he admitted two counts of intentional strangulation, assault by beating, and administering a noxious thing with intent to injure.
Recorder Wheeler handed down the following sentences: administering a noxious substance – 27 months' imprisonment; intentional strangulation (two counts) – nine months for each count, to run concurrently to each other but consecutive to the main sentence; threatening with an offensive weapon in a public place – 12 months, running consecutively; assault by beating – three months, running consecutively; criminal damage (two counts) – no separate penalty.
In total, Hudson, of Sandwell, was jailed for 36 months, of which he will serve half in custody before being eligible for release on licence. Hudson was also made the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the woman directly or indirectly.
