Zoe Dronfield, who was attacked by her stalker ex-partner Jason Smith with a meat cleaver and a knife, is preparing to plead with parole chiefs to keep him behind bars. Smith was jailed for 10 years in 2015 for grievous bodily harm with intent after an eight-hour assault that left Zoe with severe injuries, including a bleed on the brain and multiple fractures.
Zoe, a 50-year-old IT worker from Coventry, West Midlands, has been asked by her victim liaison officer to prepare a statement for another parole hearing. She has been warned that Smith has until November 3 to make his latest application.
Background of the Attack and Conviction
In March 2015, a judge sentenced Smith to 10 years in prison plus four years on licence. The Parole Board confirmed that Smith's parole eligibility date was January 4, 2021, his conditional release date was May 5, 2024, and his sentence end date is August 5, 2028.
Smith was released in 2024 but was recalled to prison after breaching his licence conditions. His application for parole last year was rejected.
Zoe's Campaign and Ongoing Concerns
Zoe has campaigned for a 'Stalkers' Register' and has pushed for perpetrators to be placed on VISOR, the violent and sex offenders register. Her petition has gathered 296,736 signatures. After her case, 18 other women came forward to say they had also been victims.
Zoe said: "He did his 10 year sentence and I fought tooth and nail to keep him behind bars. They put him in an open prison halfway through his sentence. Two police officers came to tell me about his first parole bid and I wrote to Robert Buckland the justice minister at the time. We got a judicial review."
Parole Board's Position
The Parole Board refused Zoe's application for the hearing to be held in public in 2023, stating that it might "impact their ability to assess risk." The Board confirmed that Smith's release was refused last year, saying: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has refused the release of Jason Smith following a paper review. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community."
A spokesperson added that Smith had not yet been referred for another review.
