Man who raped, strangled and kicked woman down the stairs amid "terrifying" abuse jailed at Portsmouth court
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
A controlling and abusive man who made life a living hell for his former partner has been jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Levi Slack-Smith, 21, has been put behind bars after being sentenced today (December 23). He deliberated isolated his victim from her friends before escalating his abusive behaviour.
Slack-Smith, of Thorndike Close in Southampton, threatened to send intimate photos of her to people she knew, made derogatory and aggressive comments towards her, and assaulted her which she tried to break up with him.
Court heard the 21-year-old would hit and kick the woman, and strangled her on multiple occasions - including one incident where he caused her to pass out - with the victim being raped several times. Slack-Smith was convicted of four counts of rape, and five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had also pleaded guilty to malicious communications and making threats to disclose private sexual photos.
As part of his controlling and obsessive behaviour, he disliked her going anywhere without him and would repeatedly blame her for his actions, including telling her "I don't know why you do this to me" after he had kicked her down the stairs.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said: “There are so many things Levi has said and done to me which shows he has no respect for women, or any human being at all. He raped me, beat me, spat at me, degraded and abused me in every possible way he could. He tried to destroy me and my life.
“Since the trial, I have felt a huge sense of relief knowing that he was found guilty and remanded. I have been able to go out by myself and I have gone back to college to do what I always wanted to do and hopefully one day I will fulfil my dreams.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped me throughout, especially my ISVA (independent sexual violence advisor), who was there for me and helped me out so much. I can’t thank the police officers enough – it may have taken a while but we got there and got the best possible outcome – thank you."
Slack-Smith was also sentenced for a dangerous driving offence, after officers pursued him in a car with cloned plates near his home - reaching speeds of up to 60mph - and arrested him on February 13, this year. He has been jailed for ten years and five months.
Judge Daniel Sawyer said: “This ‘relationship’ had almost the entire range of abuse – sexual, violent and emotional abuse. Two of the ABHs involved strangulation. It is shockingly dangerous and can lead to sudden unpredictable death. It is a uniquely terrifying form of abuse and the biggest red flag there can be in terms of domestic violence. The court looks extremely seriously on this violence. In terms of harm there was undoubtedly severe psychological harm here."
Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer PSI Rebecca Stevens said: "Levi Slack-Smith is a vile and reprehensible man, who has no respect for women and refuses to take ownership of his own behaviour and actions. Thanks to the immense courage shown by the woman in this case, he now has plenty of time to contemplate those actions, and he is not able to pose a threat to any other women."
Victims of crimes of a sexual nature are encouraged to contact police via 101, where they can speak to an officer in confidence. Further information about sexual abuse support services can be found here.