Ex- boxer assaulted his wife and burned her clothes

A FORMER boxer subjected his wife to a prolonged assault in front of their children then made a bonfire out of her clothes and underwear in a revenge attack at their home in Leeds.

Levi Powell torched £ 3,000 worth of clothing including 10 pairs of shoes and also set fire to photographs and souvenirs of their children in a drink and cocaine fuelled rage.

Leeds Crown Court heard Powell started the fire in the garden of their home in Seacroft after subjecting her to an hour- long assault.

Powell, 32, of Kentmere Crescent, Seacroft, was jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to arson, criminal damage and common assault.

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said Powell turned violent after spending the day drinking and taking drugs on August 15 this year.

Powell and the victim had been in a relationship for five years and have children together.

Miss Gilmore said the couple married in August 2017 but the relationship began to deteriorate when he was refused a boxing licence and began to drink heavily.

The prosecutor said Powell was also controlling towards the woman and “kept tabs” on where she went and who she spoke to.

The attack in August took place when Powell returned home with his friend. The children were woken by the disturbance and began screaming.

The defendant has previous convictions for inflicting grievous bodily harm, supplying drugs, drink driving and breaching court orders.

Judge Simon Batiste said:” You burned the vast majority of her clothing and underwear.

“In short it was calculated to do her very significant economic damage.”