Abuser choked girlfriend during vicious assault
A SERIAL abuser choked his girlfriend and told her to “go to sleep” after punching and kicking her while accusing her of cheating on him.
When she confronted him about her bruises, the thug said: “Oh my God, I didn’t realise they’re so bad” and made her cover them up.
Karl Smout, 20, of Newport, had been in a four-month relationship with his victim when he carried out the assaults while they were staying at hotels.
The jealous offender continually accused the woman of sleeping with other men and of being unfaithful to him, which he used as justification for his attacks.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the first assault took place on May 19 at a hotel in Newport.
When the victim tried to stop him from leaving the hotel room, he slapped her across the head with an open palm and pushed her so she hit her head on the door. He then kicked her to the back.
Another assault took place at around 2am on May 22 when Smout returned to a hotel room and told the victim he had been taking cocaine and drinking alcohol before again accusing her of cheating.
He said: “I told you what would happened if you cheated on me, watch what happens when you get in that room.”
He kicked her three times to the chin and she rolled herself into the foetal position to protect herself but the defendant kept hitting her.
Prosecutor Rachel Knight said Smout made demands for a name and the victim was “flinching with nerves”.
They went outside for a cigarette and the defendant said: “I’m going to f ****** hit you now. You have seen nothing yet.”
He then went through her phone and punched her multiple times to the back and bit her finger.
The victim agreed to go with Smout to see a man he had accused her of sleeping with. As they walked through Newport city centre he tried to hug her – but when she refused, he hit her again.
He then became involved in an incident with the man, who denied anything happening with the victim, and the defendant was arrested.
Smout and the victim met again the next day on May 23 at Tredegar Park and upon being shown her bruises he said: “Oh my God, I didn’t realise it was so bad” and told her to cover them up.
He later received a message about the victim having a drink with another man and said: “What boy bought you drinks? What the f*** is that about, you slag?”
He then spat in her face and put an arm around her neck and throat. As the victim struggled he squeezed harder, pulled her up off the ground, and said: “Go to sleep.”
He then pushed her and she ended up on the floor, but when she said she would show the bruises to her mother he apologised and followed her.
The defendant was arrested on May 27 and denied the allegations, claiming he and the victim had split up and he wouldn’t contact her again.
Smout, of Kestrel Way, Duffryn, later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.
The court heard he had convictions for battery when he spat in a former partner’s face on two occasions.
In a victim personal statement the victim said: “During my relationship with Karl, I’ve had to take medication for anxiety and depression and I became anxious all of the time.
“Our relationship has been up and down constantly and he’s broken up with me for little things and accused me of seeking attention.
“He said he was sleeping with his former partner, which hurt me, and he wouldn’t let me drink alcohol unless I was with him.”
Sentencing, Recorder Duncan Bould said: “You say you lose your temper when you feel you have been disrespected but respect is a two-way institution.”
Smout was sentenced to 22 months’ detention in a young offenders’ institute.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.