David Smith (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 3 minutes ago
A 43-year-old man who pursued his former partner in a car, forced her off the road while armed with a knife, and then set fire to her garage has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison.
David Smith, of Gwynfi Street, Blaengwynfi, appeared at Swansea Crown Court having previously admitted stalking, two counts of possession of a bladed article, dangerous driving, criminal damage, and arson.
The relationship breakdown
Prosecutor Craig Jones outlined how Smith and the complainant had separated around the turn of 2026. In the weeks that followed, Smith repeatedly visited her home in the Afan Valley – on some occasions as many as five times in a single day – and bombarded her with WhatsApp messages and phone calls despite her efforts to establish boundaries.
The car chase and knife confrontation
On March 2, Smith arrived at the woman’s address in Blaengwynfi carrying a knife. When she attempted to leave by car, he gave chase in his own vehicle, overtook her, and blocked the road ahead of her, forcing her to stop. He then got out and approached her car while still brandishing the blade.
The woman tried to escape but reversed her car into a ditch. She was able to flag down a passing motorist, who drove her to the safety of Cymmer police station, where she reported being run off the road by a man with a knife.
Her father was subsequently alerted and found the abandoned vehicle in the roadside ditch. All four tyres had been slashed with a knife.
Arson and arrest
Smith then sent his ex-partner messages and voice notes described by the prosecution as a “taunt” – one of which said “Ha-ha look at your garage.”
Residents near the woman’s property spotted smoke coming from the garage at the rear of her home and shortly afterwards saw Smith emerging from the building carrying a knife and making threats to take his own life.
Firefighters were called to deal with the blaze while police launched a search for Smith. Officers located him on a track on the mountain above Blaengwynfi, and following a period of negotiation he was arrested by armed units just before 4pm.
Previous record and mitigation
The court heard Smith had a small number of previous convictions dating from 2001 to 2013. His most recent was a 2025 conviction for being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol, for which he received 10 penalty points but was not disqualified.
David Singh, representing Smith, acknowledged the defendant’s behaviour had been “remarkably foolish and vindictive in part” and said it was fortunate the consequences had not been more serious. He told the court that while not an excuse, the context for Smith’s actions was his use of alcohol and drugs while suffering severe depression following the death of his father.
Sentencing
Judge Catherine Richards told Smith his actions amounted to “a form of revenge attack” and said he had used his car “as a weapon” to frighten his former partner. She added that she accepted there was evidence of remorse.
Smith received a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas and was sentenced to four years and four months in prison. He will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody before being released on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for a total of 32 months.
