Jail for violent Yorkshire man who dragged girlfriend through a McDonald's car park with his Land Rover

Lee Elwood, 35, of no fixed abode, was also given a nine-year driving ban at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour and causing serious injury by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how Elwood subjected his victim, a woman in her 30s, to seven years of abuse, culminating in an incident which took place on Thursday 1 July 2021. Elwood was driving a Land Rover Freelander with the victim sat in the front passenger seat. Whilst driving down the M18, Elwood assaulted the victim, pulling her hair and punching her.

He eventually pulled off the motorway and stopped at McDonalds in Bramley, Rotherham. As the victim attempted to escape, Elwood set off driving, dragging her along the floor for several metres at the side of his vehicle.

As a result of this horrendous act of violence, she suffered broken bones in her neck, several fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a torn liver, a fractured tibia, as well as multiple grazes and bruises across her entire body.

Following this incident, Elwood went on the run and enquiries to locate him stretched across England. He was located and arrested by officers from Rotherham in the Leicestershire Police area in October 2021 and later charged.

On his sentencing, Detective Sergeant Chris Byrne from South Yorkshire Police said: “Elwood is a violent individual, who isolated his victim and controlled her through both violence and fear of violence. He had no consideration for her safety on that day. He just wanted to drive her away, so she would not tell anyone of the violence she was suffering from. He had no intention of facing the consequences of his actions.

“I am pleased he has been served justice for his atrocious and violent crimes. He is now quite rightly behind bars, off our streets and unable to cause any further harm.

“I want to thank the victim who has been so brave to come forward and disclose what was happening to her.

“Whilst this sentencing will never undo the pain Elwood has caused, I hope that now he is behind bars this can act as a step towards her healing. Since the incident she has made some real progress and is not only making real strides in rebuilding her life but is also recovering well from her injuries.

“If you, or someone you know, is suffering from abuse or violence, please know that you are not alone; we are here, we will listen and we will take action to bring your offender to justice.

“Please report what is happening to you so we can help. Call 101, 999 in an emergency or report online.”