A THUG who hit a man over the head with a snooker cue and threatened to pour petrol through his letterbox has been jailed for three years.
Danny Quigley, 23, attacked his 19-year-old victim outside a nightclub in Croydon on August 4 last year. He then threatened the man and his family in the days following the attack.
Quigley, of Redwing Close, South Croydon, was jailed for 33 months at the Old Bailey yesterday (Wednesday) after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and a section four public order offence.
His victim had been involved in an argument at the club with two women who had, as a result, been asked to leave.
Later the man left the venue and made his way to East Croydon. However, one of the women involved in the incident called Quigley, who turned up and hit the man over the head with a snooker cue. He was taken to hospital and required six stitches.
In the days that followed, Quigley phoned the victim and his family, making threats of violence and even to pour petrol through their letterbox.
He was arrested on August 10 after throwing a hammer at the windscreen of the victim's brother's vehicle.
While in custody, police seized Quigley's phone and linked it to the calls that were being made to the victim's family.
Quigley was also arrested for assault and witness intimidation, although he denied involvement.
Through various ID parades Quigley was identified as the attacker. Police also analysed recordings of the threatening phone calls and linked them to him.
Detective Constable Lorna Sillett, from Croydon CID, said: "The assault alone on the victim was extremely serious and left him needing stitches to his head. However, Quigley's threatening behaviour towards the victim and his family following the assault is what made this case all the more traumatic for them.
"Throughout the investigation, Quigley repeatedly denied his involvement, but he even made a call to threaten the family while a police officer was with them discussing the case.
"Thanks to the forensic voice work, and other witness accounts identifying Quigley, the weight of evidence was so great that he was left with no choice than to plead guilty when he appeared at court and will now be behind bars for a considerable time.
"I would like to praise the courage and conviction of the victim and his family throughout the entire ordeal and hope this case helps to give other people in similar situations the confidence to come to the police and know that we will do everything we can to bring violent offenders to justice."
