A domestic violence victim whose terrified screams were recorded by her distressed daughter said she fears her abuser will end up killing her.
The woman had been in a "turbulent" relationship for four years with Carl Smith and was subjected to a series of assaults and then a campaign of harassment when she finally found the courage to dump him.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that in December 2020 they were at the dining table when the victim questioned Smith about a metal object found in the washing. He became angry and pulled her off the kitchen chair.
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He then body-slammed her into a kitchen unit and hit her head off a kitchen cupboard before putting her in a corner and repeatedly kicking her in the head and body, causing her to lose consciousness.
The attack was heard by the victim's child, who began recording the slapping noises and screams, causing the youngster to become distressed. The following morning the girl found her mum lying at the bottom of the stairs.
An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital and found to have a fractured sternum and a hematoma around her heart. She tried to cover for Smith at the time, claiming she'd fallen downstairs, as she was too frightened of him to report the truth.
In the summer of 2021 Smith, 37, of Jubilee Terrace, Bedlington, demanded money from her then grabbed her round the throat until she lost consciousness. Ceramic dog bowls were damaged in the fracas and the woman suffered cuts to her feet on the shards. Smith also punched her in the face, causing her lip to burst.
In December last year he assaulted her again during a row, slamming her into a shower. Then from April this year he began harassing her after she dumped him.
Claire Anderson, prosecuting, said: "The victim decided to end the relationship but kept speaking to him to keep the peace but didn't want anything to do with him romantically. He kept turning up and trying to gain entry to her home."
On one occasion he turned up and began throwing things and calling her names. She told her not to contact her again but he kept turning up nearly every night.
One night, he was seen on CCTV crouching down outside her home. On April 22, the victim asked her colleague to go to her home as her back door was unlocked and when the colleague got there, Smith was in the living room.
The following day, a sleeping bag and his belongings were found in her garage. On April 27 he tried to gain entry by putting his foot in the door when she opened it.
A couple of days later she received numerous phone calls and texts from him and on May 4 she was walking home with a friend when Smith suddenly appeared. Three days later he called and texted her.
Miss Anderson said: "She had repeatedly told him she wanted nothing to do with him but he kept trying to contact her. Her colleagues were increasingly concerned about her. She had sent pictures of her injuries and was often off sick." Her employer reported concerns about her welfare to police and when officers attended her home she disclosed what had been happening.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said her life has improved since his remand in custody but she often has nightmares about the violence she endured and now has trust issues. She added: "I believe if this doesn't stop he will kill me. He promised a dream and delivered a nightmare".
Smith, who has 32 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault and harassment. He was jailed for 30 months and given a ten-year restraining order which bans him from contacting her or going to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, in Northumberland.
Christopher Rose, defending, said Smith has already spent eight months in custody on remand and would benefit from work with the probation service.
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