Aspiring soldier jailed for stalking ex and brutal attack

A teenager who dreamed of joining the British Army has been locked up for six years after carrying out a violent campaign against his ex-girlfriend and a man he wrongly suspected of dating her.

Saman Ismail’s controlling behaviour spiralled out of control last August when he snatched his former partner’s phone during a driving test favour she’d done for him. What he saw in her messages triggered a vicious assault at her home – he shoved her to the ground, repeatedly slapped her face, headbutted her and yanked her by the hair before throwing water over her.

But the 19-year-old didn’t stop there. For six weeks afterwards, he made his ex’s life a misery by flooding her social media with messages, sending unwanted flowers to her door, and showing up uninvited at both her home and workplace. The relentless harassment caused her “never-ending stress”, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The situation reached breaking point on Wind Street in Swansea when Ismail spotted a man he believed was romantically involved with his ex. He dragged the victim’s head through a car window and launched a brutal attack, punching him repeatedly – some blows landed while Ismail clutched an unknown object. The assault left the man with serious facial injuries and a broken tooth.

Ismail’s barrister told the court his client had fled Syria for a “place of safety” in Britain and had hoped to “join His Majesty’s armed forces” – an ambition now “blighted” by his criminal convictions.

Judge Catherine Richards said the defendant clearly had an “obsession” with his former girlfriend, and described the Wind Street beating as an act of “jealousy and rage”.

Ismail, of Western Street, Sandfields, was convicted after trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking, and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. He had no previous convictions.

He received 18 months for the ABH, six months for stalking, and four years for GBH – all to run consecutively, making a total of six years detention in a young offenders institution. He’ll serve up to half behind bars before being released on licence.