Shearer Danny Joe Dullaway jailed after vicious hammer attack at Hallett

A father will be behind bars for several years after he launched a brutal hammer attack on a man who showed up to his house, rather than calling the police.

A shearer has learned his fate after he hit a man with his car and launched a brutal hammer attack in “five minutes of madness”.

Danny Joe Dullaway, 34, will be behind bars for several years after he chose to viciously bash the man, who fled from the house, rather than call police.

The District Court heard the victim, who was known to Dullaway, went to his Hallett home in the state’s Mid North on the night of January 15, last year.

The men got into a fight before Dullaway jumped in his car and chased the victim down, striking him with it.

The court heard he then bashed the victim with a hammer.

Danny Dullaway pleaded guilty to causing serious harm with intent. Photo: Facebook

Danny Dullaway was jailed for six years. Photo: Facebook

The victim was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after sustaining multiple head wounds, loss of teeth, a broken left thumb requiring surgery and a broken jaw in multiple locations.

“There’s no suggestion that the defendant was acting in self defence at the time,” the prosecutor said during sentencing submissions.

“There was a period of time following the initial assault on the porch when the victim fled from the premises where the defendant could have contacted police.

“He chose not to do that and instead armed himself with a hammer and got into his vehicle.”

The prosecutor said it was “extremely fortunate” the victim did not suffer more serious injuries.

The court heard Dullaway’s offending had left the victim feeling socially anxious, paranoid and depressed, as well as suffering ongoing physical pain.

Dullaway, who was initially charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm with intent and committing an act to cause serious harm.

Craig Caldicott, for Dullaway, previously told the court there had been perceived threats and text messages to Dullaway from the victim in the previous months before he showed up that night.

“During all this, unfortunately for my client his partner was at home with all the four children. His 11-year-old daughter was screaming,” he said.

Mr Caldicott said his client suffered a head injury during the fight but it didn’t excuse his “five minutes of madness”.

The court heard Dullaway being in custody had placed enormous pressure on his partner, as she was now behind on their mortgage.

Dullaway was sentenced to six years jail, with a non-parole period of three years and six months.

The sentence was backdated to January 16, 2024.

He was also disqualified from driving for five years.