'Systematically violent' boyfriend attacked ex in Middlesbrough hotel - then made her clean up blood

A 'systematically violent' boyfriend held his ex's head underwater and launched an attack in a Middlesbrough hotel - making her clean up blood marks.

Danna Ali, 38, carried out numerous physical assaults during what police described as a “violent and controlling relationship”, manipulating the victim and even lying to her about his real name and age. He came to police’s attention in June 2022 when officers responded to an abandoned 999 call from the victim’s mother’s address.

The women reported he was trying to get into the house and was making threats of violence to them both. And in December 2022 the victim was assaulted after a verbal argument in a Middlesbrough hotel room.

She reported being grabbed by her hair and being dragged to the floor before being thrown all around the room. Afterwards he made her clear up the walls where she had bled, and he burned the sheets, say Cleveland Police.

Other instances included him trying to get into her home while threatening her with violence. The woman also reported him trying to push her head under the water in the bath, destroying her phone, when she was trying to photograph injuries caused by him.

Ali was arrested in June 2023 and charged with a number of offences. He was remanded in custody, however, after his court appearance he was released on bail, only to continue his abuse - including what officers described as “relentless harassment.”

A few weeks later Ali was with the victim at his home address when once again he threatened violence before grabbing and damaging her phone and throwing an object at her, injuring her shoulder as she tried to leave. On officers’ arrival at the address, they found Ali’s discarded electronic tag but no sign of the suspect so Cleveland Police issued an appeal to find him.

Subsequent incidents involved Ali driving a car at the victim on more than one occasion while hurling vile verbal abuse at her. Despite him later pledging his love for her and promising not to hurt her again, in April 2024 he assaulted the woman again when he came across her walking in Ormesby, ripping her hair out, kicking and punching her and making threats of extreme violence.

Yet again he took her phone and threw it to the ground before making off in the car and leaving her at the roadside. Ali was rearrested in November 2024 after ringing and messaging the victim over several months and he was remanded and charged with multiple further offences.

On May 15, Ali pleaded guilty to:

• actual bodily harm,
• stalking with fear of violence,
• dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.

Officer in the case DC Jarrett of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) said: “Ali was a persistent and violent perpetrator of physical, emotional and verbal abuse. Despite her experience and knowing full well the danger Ali posed, the victim was extremely brave in coming forward and supporting our enquiries which were lengthy and very complex. Ali has now discovered the consequences of his actions. He cannot hurt this lady any more and I hope this brings her some reassurance as she continues to rebuild her life. I wish her all the best for the future.”

Jeep through window

The court heard that Ali told his partner he would put a Jeep through her window and a knife through her throat if she didn't pay him back by midnight.

Ali, 15 years older than his former partner, had been in the relationship for nine months, before an argument on June 23, 2023, where he stood outside her mother's Middlesbrough home, screaming. The woman told police that Ali had been "abusive from the outset" of the relationship.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court about the other incidents:

• On December 20, 2022, Ali dragged his girlfriend around a Middlesbrough hotel room by her hair,
• On March 12, 2023, whilst driving to Newcastle, he grabbed her by her hair leaving her 'head squashed between seats'
• Later that night, he pushed her head under the water while she was having a bath,
• On September 3, 2023, Ali drove at his girlfriend after she refused 'to drop the charges'.

Ali was arrested after the woman's report and he was granted bail on the condition he did not contact her. But Mr Dryden said that the estranged couple saw each other in July 2023, and he asked her to drop the charges against him. When the woman refused, he threw an air freshener at her.

Weeks later on September 3, the woman was out shopping when Ali confronted her, in his car. Mr Dryden told the court: "He demanded she drop the charges. He drove at her. She jumped into a bush."

Ali also appeared in court to be sentenced for driving offences after he fled from officers at 80mph, before crashing into a police car. The court heard that police indicated for Ali to pull over on Marton Road, in Middlesbrough, at 3.50am on November 22, 2022.

But he sped off in a BMW down North Ormesby Road, turning his lights off and careering through red traffic lights. He reached 90mph on Ampleforth Road, before police laid a stinger down on Overdale Road. As his tyres started to deflate, Ali continued driving.

Officers pulled up in front of him on the A66 and he crashed into a police car. Ali was arrested and told the police: "I panicked."

He initially denied the offences against his former partner, but failed to turn up to court to stand trial. He was found and remanded in custody, and later changed his plea.

'Stabbed in face'

In mitigation, Gary Wood told the court that his client had "suffered severe trauma including witnessing violence" in his native Kurdistan. "He has settled status in this country, but he was stabbed in the face, in Teesside. He has a significant scar."

Mr Wood said that Ali suffers from PTSD and emotionally unstable personality disorder; and that prison has been difficult to him because he has no family nearby, to visit him.

The court heard that when Ali has been due to be released from previous sentences, he has been held in prison by the immigration department, "who have question marks over what will happen over his immigration status".

"It's extremely likely he won't be released after this sentence, until it's decided if he will be deported to Kurdistan or not," Mr Wood added.

Judge Bryan Cox jailed Ali, of Walter Street in Stockton, for 30 months, disqualified him from driving for three years and told him he must pass an extended test before he is allowed back on the roads. An indefinite restraining order was put in place, preventing him from contacting his former girlfriend.

Ali shouted in protest as his sentence was read out, as the judge said to security guards: "Take him down, take him down."

In 2023, Ali walked out of court with a fine after he punched a pub bouncer to the floor. Ali landed a left hook to the doorman's face after he was asked to leave an area of the bar, at Middlesbrough's Central Pub, where drinks aren't served.

For daily news from Teesside's courts direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free court newsletter