Powys soldier jailed for nine months after attacks on former partner

Lee David Smith, from Llandrindod Wells, committed six offences in total against his victim on two separate dates in 2022.

These included headbutting and threatening her with a knife, as well as issuing threats to burn her house down.

The 27-year-old, who has spent the last three months in prison since the second set of offences in November, will spend another four-and-a-half months inside after he was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday.

The court was told Smith, who served in the Army for four-and-a-half years before being honourably discharged due to injury, was “bitterly ashamed and bitterly regrets” what he had done.

Prosecutor Meirion Davies said the offences occurred on two separate dates last year; June 25, after a drinking at the Log Cabin in Llandrindod Wells, and then on November 2 after he had been drinking in Brecon and demanded a lift back from his ex-partner, who was working at a pub in Builth Wells at the time.

Mr Davies said Smith had become unsettled while she spent time with her friends during the June incident, and they left the pub.

“There was an argument on the way home and he put both hands on her and shoved her backwards, causing her to fall into a hedge," he added. "She suffered scratches and a cut to elbow and the defendant walked off, leaving her in the hedge.

“She dialled 999 then the defendant grabbed her iPhone, he threw it on the floor and smashed it. He became erratic, angry and aggressive, and pushed her to the floor again. Police officers arrived and arrested the defendant, who was heard to say ‘I didn’t mean it babe’.”

By the time of the November incident, Mr Davies said the couple had separated, but were still living together; with an agreement he was to move out at the end of month.

“During the course of the evening he sent her abusive voicenotes and messages," Mr Davies added. "She received these as she was on her way to Brecon to pick him up, but when she picked him up he told her to ‘f*** off, so she drove off.

“She received more threatening messages. He threatened to rip the door off its hinges if it wasn’t left open and said he would kick her teeth down her throat.”

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Mr Davies said the victim drove home to collect the two dogs the couple shared as she didn’t want them in the house due to the defendant’s behaviour.

“The victim was at Tesco when she received a further message from the defendant who made a threat to burn her house down if she didn’t return home with his dog,” said Mr Davies.

“She did return but waited in the car outside; the defendant was present, shouting for the return of his dog."

When she went inside, he headbutted her as she dialled 999, then approached her with a large knife, Mr Davies added.

“He was holding it above his shoulder and pushed her against the wall; she hit her head. She was very scared and thought he was going to kill her," he said.

“His demeanour then changed once more, he became upset and asked for a hug from the complainant.”

Police then arrived and arrested Smith.

James Evans, representing Smith, formerly of Maelog Court Llandrindod but now of no fixed abode, said his client was a man of previous clean character.

“He has entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity and doesn’t dispute the facts,” said Mr Evans.

“A prison officer has told me today that if all our prisoners were like him our job would be easy. Probation misjudged him; when I speak to him his remorse is evident and genuine, he’s bitterly ashamed and bitterly regrets what he’s done."

Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Smith the victim had suffered a “protracted and fearful ordeal”.

“Your behaviour showed escalation and you minimised your involvement during a pre-sentence interview and deflected, blaming her for your actions. You told a probation officer ‘Like all women, she got in my face’.

“Any man who attacks a woman commits an offence too serious to be dealt with by anything short of an immediate prison sentence."

Smith was jailed for six weeks for assaulting Ms Willey in June, with terms of four weeks each for the other assault and damaging the phone to be served concurrently.

He was jailed for 20 weeks for harassing his victim in November, and eight weeks to be served consecutively for the assault on that occasion, and a concurrent three weeks. The sentences total 34 weeks in prison.

In addition, Smith must adhere to a five -year restraining order.

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