A judge told the dad-to-be that there ‘could have been much more serious consequences’ including a ‘real risk’ of his partner being killed
Tony Carty, of Court Farm Road in Birmingham, aged 38(Image: Merseyside Police)
A father-to-be drove to pick his girlfriend up following a night out but left her injured after she was dragged along the road by his car. Tony Carty was said to have driven his vehicle towards pedestrians when “all hell broke loose” following his arrival at a house which she had attended with friends in the early hours.
This saw him brandish a metal pole in the street and another man punch him in the face as he sat behind the wheel. A judge told the convicted domestic abuser and drug dealer yesterday that “there could have been much more serious consequences”, including a “real risk” that he could have killed his own partner.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday afternoon that police received reports of a disturbance on Haven Road in Fazakerley shortly after 6.30am on June 3 this year, with a caller having detailed how an argument involving a group of men and women had erupted in the street before a car driver had “mounted the kerb and tried to run people over”. Officers then arrived to find Carty’s girlfriend Demi Clough with injuries after a collision involving his vehicle.
Martyn Walsh, prosecuting, described how she disclosed to PCs that the defendant had been “ringing her throughout the evening, asking where she was”. Having learned of her whereabouts, the 38-year-old, of Court Farm Road in Birmingham, then made his way to the area in his car.
Ms Clough initially recalled that she was injured after being “dragged by the car” as Carty, who was said to have been visiting family in Merseyside, drove along the road. However, she later gave another account in which she stated that the incident was “in effect, an accident”.
Once he had arrived at the address, Ring doorbell camera footage showed Ms Clough and a female friend exiting a house alongside two males. There then followed “violence on both sides” as the row unfolded, with one unnamed man seen armed with a weapon and banging at Carty’s car window before aiming a punch towards him.
The motorist was meanwhile seeing exiting his vehicle at one stage brandishing a metal pole and “advancing towards the males” while demanding that Ms Clough leave with him. Women were heard screaming and crying as the collision then occurred.
Mr Walsh added: “Effectively, on two occasions, he drives the motor vehicle at the male. Both parties could have deescalated things, but, it appears, neither chose to do so. All of the parties in the house had been out drinking. Footage shows them arriving back in a taxi a short time before Mr Carty arrives.
“He is effectively driving at pedestrians. It goes on for some time. He does have opportunities to leave the area.”
Carty’s vehicle was subsequently found abandoned nearby, while he was arrested later the same day after contacting Merseyside Police. Under interview, he stated that “he was the one who was attacked” and was “acting in self defence”.
His previous convictions include a six-month sentence for possession of a bladed article in a public place in 2013, a suspended sentence for possession of drugs with intent to supply in 2018 and a 30-month imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court last year for controlling or coercive behaviour and harassment in relation to a former partner. He has since been recalled to prison on licence in relation to the latter term.
Carty has also served bans for drug driving and driving while disqualified. Brendan Carville, defending, told the court: “He was stone cold sober. She was, and still is, his partner. She is pregnant with his child.
“When he arrived, all hell broke loose. They wanted to continue drinking. They attacked him with sticks and punched him in the face. He had a terrible dilemma. Does he drive off and leave her with this hostile group? Everyone at the scene was very, very drunk.”
Mr Carville said Ms Clough’s revised account stated that she “didn’t want her boyfriend to leave the scene and kept hold of the car”, adding: “The defendant had been on a course for construction management, and he has taken study leave in respect of that. That is due to start again, he tells me, either in mid-October or the end of November.
“He is trying to do his best to reform himself and provide, in due course, for his new born child and partner. His partner is standing by him. He could have left the scene. He had been assaulted. He has been summoned by his partner.
“She, rightly or wrongly, thought it best to stay with these people. They were very violent. They smashed his windscreen. He was punched in the face. It shows that this is not a case, when one look at it at first blush, of a man going berserk with his car.”
Carty admitted dangerous driving and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a navy blue Nike jumper, he was jailed for a year.
Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: “It is clear that you wanted her to come back with you. She, at that stage, made it clear that either she or others on that street did not want her going back with you.
“It may well be that you were concerned about what was happening. That does not excuse what then happened. You should have gone around the corner in your car and, if you were that concerned, you should have contacted the police.
“What then happened was extremely dangerous. A car is a very dangerous weapon. There was a real risk here of someone being seriously injured, if not worse. That could have even been your partner. There could have been much more serious consequences.
“You had ample opportunity to leave in your vehicle. You should have left the scene. Driving around, reversing back and forward and the like, was extremely dangerous. Matters are made more serious by the fact that you got out of the car with a weapon.
“I accept that there were others with weapons and you window was damaged, but the incident was not helped by the fact that you got out of the car with a metal pole. I accept that you did not cause any damage with that weapon and you were only out of the car for a short period of time.
“You have been before the courts on numerous occasions in the past. You have also been before the courts before in relation to driving convictions, and you have been driving when banned as well.
“I am told that you are someone who is now expecting a child. I hope that it is right that you put this offending behind you on your eventual release.
“If you do not, you will not see your child for long and you will spend longer and longer in custody. I hope that you are making real efforts to turn your life around and you can make a positive contribution to society and your family.”
Carty was also disqualified from driving for a total of 17 months. He will be required to pass an extended retest before he will be allowed back behind the wheel.