‘Psychopathic’ boyfriend jailed for mowing down girlfriend with car after argument

Steven Conner, 28, followed the victim along a street before mounting the pavement and deliberately ploughing into her.

The victim suffered a broken leg and was left with horrific cuts and bruises in the attack by Conner on Viaduct Road, Kirkstall, Leeds. Conner was told he must serve six years in prison followed by an extended licence period of five years after being found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Doctors who assessed Conner after then incident described how he displayed psychopathic traits and posed a risk of causing serious harm or death to other members of the public in the future. He has shown no remorse since the attack in July last year and failed to ask about his victim’s condition when arrested.

Connors, of Aviary Mount, Armley, Leeds, stayed at the scene after knocking the victim down but claimed he did not know who she was. He tried to deny the offence and forced the victim to give evidence at a trial.

The jury saw through his lies and found him guilty, and Judge Penelope Belcher described the incident as a “deeply troubling” case.

She said: “It is astonishing that she was not more seriously hurt. You were very clever in the witness box in making things fit to the things that you heard.

“It is plain that you are intelligent and that is an example of you trying...to avoid responsibility for what you had done.”

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim had been left badly traumatised by the incident. She has been left scared to cross the road and go out in public on her own.

She has also put her plans to become a drugs support worker on hold because of the ordeal.

Detective Inspector Dave Cowley, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Conner is clearly a dangerous individual who pursued his partner and used his car as a weapon to attack her. She received serious injuries and it was only through good fortune that his actions did not have more serious consequences for her.”