Man who told ex to clean-up blood during attack jailed

A man who told his ex to clean-up her own blood while assaulting her - as her children fled over a garden fence to a neighbour - has been jailed for more than five years.

Jeremiah Joshua Smith, 40, of no fixed address, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Wednesday accused of repeatedly assaulting the woman in front of her children at her Gloucester home, leaving her with a fractured spine.

Smith admitted causing her grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, as well as the assault by beating of a second woman, the neighbour.

Recorder R Weekes KC deemed him a danger to future partners and jailed him for five years and eight months as well handing him a restraining order for 15 years.

The court was told the mother had to push her children out of a downstairs window so they could be safe from Smith, who was in possession of a knife, Gloucester Police said.

Jurors also heard Smith had 32 previous convictions for 64 offences, with a history of assaulting his partners or ex-partners. His first domestic abuse-related offence was in 2006 when he was 19, police said.

Prosecuting, Ms Luscombe said at about 07:00 on 31 July 2025, Smith used a key to let himself into a property, where his ex-partner lived with her two children, who were having a sleepover in the living room with two friends, police said.

The woman had sent Smith a message four days earlier to break off their relationship.

Holding a knife, Smith threatened and punched her, causing her to nearly lose consciousness, and he then grabbed her neck to stop her from screaming, the court was told.

While she was on the floor, the court heard Smith picked up a second knife and told her to clean her own blood off the floor, police said.

The court heard Smith continued to assault the woman in front of the children, including stamping on her, with the victim sustaining a 7.5cm (3in) slash to her leg. The victim recalled Smith saying he would kill her.

When Smith turned his back, the victim pushed the children out of a downstairs window, the court was told.

An X-ray at hospital revealed she had sustained a fractured spine.

Ms Luscombe told the court Smith hit the other victim in the head, causing her to fall to the floor, and he hit her again in the back of the head with enough force that meant she could not get back up. He also punched her in the leg.

Investigating officer, Det Con Philpott, said: "It is clear that Smith poses a very real danger to the women who he forms a relationship with.

"Due to the amount of times he has been put before the courts due to his behaviour, he has now been given an extended licence as it is obvious that he poses a significant risk to women."

Smith has also been prohibited from entering Kingsway and an extended sentence of a further three years on licence.