Darwin man who ran over partner during argument to spend five months in jail

A 63-year-old man will spend five months in jail after running over his partner during an argument, leaving her with multiple skull and facial fractures, at a caravan park just outside of Darwin at the beginning of the year.

The sentencing judge said the incident left the woman with "horrendous" life-threatening injuries, including brain bleeds, that left her in hospital for months and faced with a long process of recovering her ability to walk.

Christopher Morley pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and breaching a domestic violence restraining order earlier this month after spending a little over four months in jail on remand.

On Thursday morning, before sentencing in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, he also pleaded guilty to the summary charge of driving under the influence of drugs.

According to the agreed facts, Morley and his then-partner were drinking at the Oasis Caravan Park in Virginia when the pair got into a verbal argument.

Earlier that day, Morley had texted his daughter saying the victim had threatened to burn the caravan down unless he paid her $1,500 — a threat the victim denied when speaking to the daughter at the time.

In another message to his daughter, Morley said the victim was drinking, refusing to leave and talking to another male at the bar.

In handing down his sentence, Justice Stephen Southwood said the victim had walked in front of Morley's Range Rover Discovery as he was trying to leave and "faced the vehicle head-on".

"As the offender accelerated the vehicle, the victim reached out in front of her and placed both hands on the centre of the vehicle," he said.

He said Morley then accelerated forwards, pushing the victim backwards, causing her to lose her balance and fall under the front passenger side of the car.

"The offender then continued to drive for approximately 10 metres before coming to a stop,"

Justice Southwood said.

The court heard Morley called Triple Zero (000) immediately, but made false statements to police when they arrived.

"The offender suggested that the victim had jumped out in front of the car in an act of self harm. That is not correct," Justice Southwood said.

He said Morley had also told police he was only driving 5km/h, when in fact it was closer to 10km/h, and that his vehicle's dash camera was not working, although it was.

The court heard Morley's blood alcohol level was over the limit at 0.45, and that he tested positive for benzodiazepine, amphetamines and another substances at the time of the incident.

In handing down his sentence, Justice Southwood said Morley's criminal history could not be ignored.

The court heard the victim had taken out a domestic violence order against Morley two years prior, after he assaulted her.

In 1990, he spent a month in prison for a separate assault, and was later fined after damaging property and resisting police.

In 1991, he was sentenced to three months jail for breaching an intervention order.

While Morley's defence counsel had previously submitted their client was attempting to leave the situation in question voluntarily, an argument Justice Southwood accepted, the judge said the "very serious injuries" sustained by the victim were "significant".

"The volatile domestic situation preceding the offending explains but does not excuse it," he said.

"They should have adhered to the domestic violence orders in place and none of this would have happened."

Morley was sentenced to two years and three months in jail, suspended after nine months and backdated, leaving him with five months' remaining jail time.

He was also ordered to pay a $194 fine and disqualified from driving for six months.