Jail for Leigh Park bully who drove his wife to file her teeth with 'donkey' jibe

Joseph Smith, 51 from Overton Crescent, Leigh Park, had been with his wife for more than 20 years.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard he refused to get an oven installed at the home they shared as he feared she would have an affair with a workman.

Their relationship reached boiling point on January 15 this year, when in a fit of rage Smith grabbed hold of her throat, started scratching her hands and attempted to bite the rings off her fingers.

In a statement read in court moments before Smith was jailed, his wife said his violent outburst made her realise just how desperate her situation was.

She said: ‘A person with love in their heart would never behave in this way.

‘I feel ashamed of my time with Joe.

‘I loved that man blindly – he broke every part of my person.

‘I even filed my own front teeth down because he said I looked like a donkey.’

The court heard the woman was not allowed a mobile phone unless she left the house, and Smith would go to her workplace to log the number plates of co-workers who were men.

Prosecuting, Tom Wright said: ‘He was extremely jealous of her and quick to anger.

‘She felt as though she was always walking on eggshells and trying to get away from him.

‘He would mock her, belittle her and knock her down.

‘He would make continual checks on her computer and present himself at her workplace at least once a week.

‘Smith would live quite freely, but she was heavily restricted.

‘There wasn’t even an oven in the house because he was concerned she would sleep with the person who came to install it.’

Mitigating, Jonathan Underhill said Smith is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship, and suggested a suspended sentence to open up possibilities of rehabilitation.

He said: ‘He understands now – perhaps belatedly – that the last thing he wanted to do is drag his family into a court process.

‘What is abundantly clear is that this is a man who has issues that need to be resolved, and he should be given a single opportunity to address the underlying issues of this relationship.’

But judge David Melville QC said Smith couldn’t walk away unpunished, telling him he caused ‘significant psychological harm’ to his wife.

As well as his custodial sentence, Smith was given a restraining order, which means he cannot contact his wife directly or indirectly for the rest of his life.

He is also prohibited from entering Portsea island.

Smith was sentenced to 27 months in prison for controlling and coercive behaviour, and 12 months for actual bodily harm. These will be served concurrently.

Smith admitted actual bodily harm and coercive and controlling behaviour, both towards his partner.

:: If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and need support, call Stop Domestic Abuse on (023) 9206 5494. In an emergency, dial 999.

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