Court told of murdered young Leeds mother's catalogue of injuries

Leeds Crown Court heard drug user Morgan Banks was paranoid and falsely believed 17-year-old Sophie Smith - the mother of his five-week-old baby son - was pregnant by another man.

The court heard he Banks subjected her to a punishment beating at her flat on Tempest Road, Beeston, in the early hours of October 14 2016 until she agreed with his false accusations.

Banks punched, kicked and stamped on Miss Smith's head and body causing a catalogue of injuries including multiple lacerations to her face, extensive bruising to her body, a fractured eye socket, broken nose, a blood clot on her brain, 11 broken ribs and a fractured breastbone. Her spleen and her left kidney were lacerated.

He left her in an unconscious state and fled the flat, leaving the baby in his cot

Prosecutor, Michelle Colborne QC said Banks told police he had taken cannabis and cocaine and had drunk two pints before the attack.

Miss Colbourne said: "He killed her by subjecting he to a violent and sustained and violent attack, he contends because she was unfaithful to him and doing so in the belief that she was pregnant. Initially he beat her until she agreed with his accusations, then set about her once more as punishment."

Miss Colbourne said Morgan told police he wanted to help Miss Smith during the attack, adding: "When he head butted her, she tried to cuddle him to make him stop. Then he wanted to help her so he put her in the shower. He thought someone had turned the hot water off on purpose. Then he wrapped her in a quilt, after which sh started coughing up blood."

Banks wept as the recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, jailed him for life with a minimum 17 year term.