Jordan Smart, a 24-year-old from Forest Hall, Newcastle, has been sentenced for a horrific campaign of abuse against his partner that culminated on Christmas Day 2022. The attacks included headbutting, biting, stamping on her head, and choking her while she was pregnant, causing her to lose consciousness.
Abuse Spanning Three and a Half Years
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the victim was just 16 when she began dating Smart, who was 19 at the time. The relationship initially appeared normal but soon turned verbally abusive before escalating to physical violence. Judge Robert Adams described Smart's behaviour as 'childish' and 'completely unacceptable'.
During the relationship, Smart subjected his partner to repeated assaults. In December 2022, during an argument over finances, he bit her on the back of the leg, breaking the skin. The following day, he trashed her flat because he had no Christmas presents to open. Judge Adams said: 'Rather childish behaviour on your part, simply because you didn't have a Christmas present to open.'
Specific Violent Incidents
The court detailed numerous violent episodes. Smart pulled her hair, pushed her over a sofa, and struck her with a deodorant can. He grabbed her hair, pushed her to the floor, and stamped on her head. When she went to the bathroom to clean her bleeding injuries, he hit her again, causing her to strike her head on the side of the bath.
On another occasion, after a night out, he punched her in the face. He kicked her shin, causing a dislocated finger when she tried to block it. He also headbutted her in the face. When she bought herself earrings while working at McDonald's, he stamped on her head, causing the earring to split her ear.
While she was pregnant, Smart choked her to the point of losing consciousness. He also struck her with a hard plastic toy, leaving her needing crutches to walk.
Controlling and Manipulative Behaviour
Beyond physical violence, Smart exerted control over every aspect of her life. He stopped her wearing makeup, cut up her clothing, removed laces from her shoes, and forbade her from wearing nice clothes. He drank all the milk so she couldn't make tea and ate all the food, causing her to lose weight. He demanded money for drugs and accessed her bank account to take her wages. He smashed seven phones when she tried to take photos of her injuries and threatened to kill himself to manipulate her.
Judge Adams said: 'Dreadful controlling behaviour. You threatened to smash the flat up if you didn't get more attention. An appalling catalogue of behaviour towards her in this relationship.'
Victim Impact and Sentencing
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was left anxious, suffered flashbacks, and stopped eating. Smart pleaded guilty to controlling behaviour and unlawful wounding. The court heard he was 'ashamed' of his behaviour and was young at the time of the offending.
Judge Adams sentenced Smart to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and issued a restraining order. The judge noted the defendant's remorse but condemned his actions as a 'particularly cowardly' and 'appalling catalogue of behaviour'.
