David Smith 40

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A violent abuser has been jailed for four years for subjecting his ex-partner to years of domestic and sexual abuse.

David Smith, 40, began his campaign of cruelty against then-partner Louise Sutherland-Knowles, 39, after they began their relationship in 2018.

However, Smith’s behaviour soon spiralled into abusive and controlling – before quickly becoming physical.

Smith would use manipulative tactics and threats to control Louise, despite having multiple affairs during the course of their relationship.

After ending their relationship in 2022, Smith went on to persistently and unwantedly text, call, and email Louise. After she ignored him, he would then turn up uninvited at her home address and to her place of work.

Louise’s mam became so concerned with the behaviour she was witnessing her daughter be subject to that she reported Smith to Northumbria Police for stalking.

This report would become the first of three investigations Louise would have to undergo for the crimes Smith committed against her.

In December 2022, Smith was charged with stalking.

However, within days, in a bid to see Louise, and despite strict bail conditions for the stalking offence, Smith scaled a six-foot fence to climb into her garden, carrying a large knife and breaking a window trying to enter the address.

He did this just before 2am as Louise slept in the house with her children. She was awoken to the sound of a thud – before Smith was spooked by a neighbour and ran away. He was rapidly arrested after Louise informed police.

The next day, Louise attended Middle Engine Lane police station where she disclosed that during their relationship, Smith had also sexually assaulted her.

She described how, on the evening of May 7, 2022, Smith had thrown his phone and pizza against a wall – later smashing some into her face.

He pinned her up against the wall and put his hands down her underwear and sexually assaulted her. 

Only a month later in February 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to stalking Louise and was handed a restraining order.

In September last year, Smith was charged with possession of a pointed article and criminal damage – in relation to the offence where he attended her address in the middle of the night. He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on May 7, where he pleaded guilty to the offences.

In April 2025, following a complex investigation by the Force’s Safeguarding Department, Smith was also charged with assault on a female by penetration and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, following Louise’s final report.

Yesterday (July 21), Smith, of Brandling Court, North Shields, appeared once more at Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment after previously pleading guilty in relation to both the sexual, knife, and assault offences.

As part of his extended sentence, he will also spend a further three years on licence once he is released from prison and must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Smith was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was handed a six-year restraining order to protect Louise.

Following the sentencing, Louise has also made the courageous decision to waive her lifelong right to anonymity as a victim of a sexual offence and share her harrowing story in the hopes of showing people that abuse can take many forms.

She is encouraging anyone who has been affected to report to police and seek support.

In charge of the investigation was Detective Constable Leasa Banks, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department.

Speaking after Smith’s court appearance, she said: “David Smith has shown time and time again who he is – and that is a violent and abusive man who manipulates, becoming dangerous when he doesn’t get what he wants.

“I want to thank and praise Louise for a few things, but firstly, for reporting the offences to police – which she has now stated is the best thing she could’ve ever done.

“Now, thanks to her extreme bravery, and composure through years of investigations, the whole world now knows that Smith is a domestic abuser, a stalker, and a sex offender.”

Det Con Banks added: “Louise’s decision to waive her anonymity is an extremely courageous one. Whilst we would never expect any victim of any sexual offence to do this, we throw our full support behind anyone who’s experienced these heinous types of crimes – and will always help them in whatever way they need.

“We’ve now put Louise’s abuser before the courts, which has hopefully been able to provide her with a degree of closure – and we are now also providing her with the platform to tell her story in her own words.

“This is what we can achieve when we work with victims and help them hold their abusers to account.

“If you’ve experienced any form of abuse, whether domestic, sexual, or stalking – please let us know we can act for you just as we have for Louise here.”