'His behaviour was horrendous': Abusive Leeds boyfriend hit partner with piece of wood with nail in during drunken four-hour attack

David Smith kicked and punched the woman repeatedly, took her keys so she could not escape from him and said: "You are never leaving me."

Leeds Crown Court heard the desperate victim escaped when he made her go shopping with him in Morley on April 14 this year.

She approached a police community support officer in the town centre and reported the abuse.

Smith was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Joseph Hudson, prosecuting, said the woman had been assaulted by Smith on a number of occasions during their six-month relationship but she had later withdrawn her complaints.

Mr Hudson said the victim supported the prosecution on this occasion due to the severity of the attack.

The prosecutor said: "In her own words: 'This time, something needs to be done.'"

Smith committed the criminal damage offence while visiting her home in Whinmoor on April 9.

Smith said to his partner: "At least I haven't punched you this time."

He then assaulted her four days later while they were at his home on Scotchman Lane, Morley.

The prosecutor said Smith subjected her to a prolonged attack lasting four hours.

He punched her in the face, kicked her in the back and struck her with a piece of wood.

Mr Hudson said: "The victim was lucky not to be hit with a nail sticking out of the wood."

Smith also grabbed her by the throat and strangled her.

She suffered cuts, bruising, scratches and swelling to her face and back.

Read more: Controlling boyfriend wrapped bin bag around his partner's neck 'like a leash' during violent assault at his home in LeedsThe 40-year-old also shouted humiliating abuse at the woman, saying: "You are never leaving me."

Mr Hudson added: "The victim felt trapped and controlled by the defendant."

She managed to escape from him the following day during the shopping trip.

Smith was interviewed and said the victim was lying.

He claimed he had caused the injuries in self defence.

A month before the attack, Smith served a seven-day prison sentence for breaching a restraining order designed to keep him away from the woman.

Jade Edwards, mitigating, said: "He accepts his behaviour on this occasion was horrendous and, quite frankly, unacceptable."

Ms Edwards said Smith had been a window cleaner for 15 years.

She said: "He has misused alcohol for some time. He has been quite frank about that.

"He's a functioning alcoholic and has been able to be a positive member of society and make a positive contribution.

"He talks of wanting to kick the alcohol. It has had a negative impact on his life."

Sentencing, Judge Simon Batiste: "You carried out a sustained attack upon her in drink over a period of some four hours.

"You punched her, kicked her in the back and used a piece of wood to hit her. She was lucky not to have been hit with the nail.

"You grabbed her neck and you strangled her.

"It is fortunate that the injuries were not more serious.

"You said she was never going to leave you."

"This offending has had a significant impact upon her."