Levi Slack-Smith 21

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A controlling and abusive man has today been jailed for 10 years for the rape and assault of a former partner.

Levi Slack-Smith deliberately isolated the woman, who he was in a relationship with at the time, from her friends.

He would threaten to send intimate photos of her to people she knew, make derogatory and aggressive comments towards her, and when she tried to break up with him he assaulted her.

A 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.

It was also heard Slack-Smith had raped her on multiple occasions during their relationship.

At Portsmouth Crown Court, he was convicted, following a trial, of four counts of rape, and five of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Slack-Smith, of Thorndike Close, Southampton, had also previously pleaded guilty to malicious communications and making threats to disclose private sexual photographs.

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 statement read at court today, she 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."

He was also sentenced today 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.

Judge Daniel Sawyer today jailed Slack-Smith for 10 years and five months, telling him:

"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."