Nicholas Conway pleaded guilty to holding a woman hostage and assaulting her

A “delusional” man held a woman hostage falsely believing she was assisting pedophiles, a court has heard.

A “delusional” man restrained a woman with duct tape before bashing her with a club in a terrifying hostage situation, a court has heard.

Nicholas Alexander Conway, 40, left the victim fearing she would be killed as she was detained because of his unfounded belief she was assisting pedophiles.

A victim impact statement was read to the District Court by the prosecutor this week.

The victim said she was aware Conway was using drugs but decided to visit him to catch up when he asked her to come over.

“Nick’s violence shocked and scared me … as the violence went on I worried I wouldn’t get out of there alive, I worried he would eventually kill me,” she said.

The victim said she still has permanent reminders of the assault by the scars on her necks from the chains and has been left hurt, degraded and repulsed by Conway.

“I’ve come to realise that you are nothing more than an unremorseful, weak, lying, self-important prick of a human being that deserves the full punishment the law is able to provide to you,” she said.

The victim said she was only able to get away after they took a taxi to a friend of Conway’s.

A prosecutor told the court the victim was restrained with duct tape and placed in the bathtub during the assault in February 2020.

The court heard she was then hit to the head with a stick or club by Conway, which caused severe bruising.

Conway also used the victim’s bank card to withdraw $120 in cash.

Conway, of Flinders Park, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and false imprisonment.

Angus Redford, for Conway, told the court his client had a “plainly unfounded” belief the victim assisted pedophiles.

“He was obviously delusional at the time that this offending occurred,” he said.

Conway was sentenced to one year and 10 months jail after bashing an alleged pervert while in custody on these charges.

During sentencing earlier this year, the court heard he was placed into a cell with the victim.

“There was a discussion that ensued as to what charges the victim was facing that led him to also being in custody,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

“The victim explained to you that he was in custody for possessing child exploitation material, or words to that effect.”

Judge Allen said this revelation caused Conway to become enraged.

“You showed the victim tattoos on your knuckles, explaining to the victim that those tattoos signified ‘brotherhood of like-minded individuals out to get pedophiles’,” Judge Allen said.

Conway punched the victim to the right side of his head, before kicking him to the left leg and punching him again to the right eye socket.

The victim suffered fractures to his right and left orbital floors which caused ongoing difficulties with his vision.

Conway will be sentenced for his other charges at a later date.