Patrick Smyth (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
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A 50-year-old man who subjected a woman in Pembrokeshire to sustained physical and psychological abuse over the course of nearly a year has been sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Patrick Smyth, from Essex, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to three offences, with the lead count being coercive and controlling behaviour. Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards passed sentence earlier this week.
How the relationship began
The court heard that Smyth first met his victim while on holiday in Tunisia. After the pair entered a relationship, he began making prolonged visits to her home in Haverfordwest – during which his behaviour became increasingly abusive.
Smyth took control of the victim’s daily life – checking her mobile phone, cutting her off from friends and family, and installing a tracking app on her device. The prosecution, Mr Scapens, noted that Smyth’s username on the tracking application was “powerful666”.
He also regularly accused the victim of “being a s*** and sleeping with a large number of men”.
Bizarre claims and escalating abuse
Among the more unusual details heard in court, the prosecution outlined how Smyth had attempted to convince the victim that he was the anonymous street artist Banksy – drawing pictures in a similar style and copying his signature.
His offending included incidents at the Coal Exchange Hotel and at a Morrisons supermarket.
Attack while on bail
The court was told that after Smyth had been arrested and released on bail, he forced his way into the victim’s home, tied her to a chair and turned off the lights – threatening her verbally and becoming physically violent towards her.
Victim’s impact
A victim personal statement read to the court by the prosecution described how her life had been fundamentally changed by the abuse. She told the court she had been left scared to go out and unable to face her friends.
Defence and sentencing
Ms Pike, representing Smyth, told the court that he had entered his guilty plea before the victim was required to be cross-examined or give evidence, and asked the judge to take this into account.
She said Smyth had taken time to reflect on his actions, describing his behaviour as out of character – a point supported by letters submitted to the court, including one from the mother of his son. Ms Pike argued that custody had served as a wake-up call, that he posed a low risk of reoffending, and that there was a real prospect of rehabilitation.
Judge Richards rejected that assessment. She remarked that there was no obvious reason for such extreme violence and said she did not consider there to be a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Smyth was sentenced to 22 months in prison. At least half of his sentence will be served in custody, with the remainder to be served on licence – with the possibility of being recalled to prison if breached.
A ten-year restraining order was also imposed.
