A brave mum-of-two has shown the horrific injuries she suffered at the hands of her violent ex-partner.
Sandra O’Brien-Jones, 35, was repeatedly punched in the face by vile Shaun Smith, 45, before he tried to run her down in his car.
On one occasion, Smith flew into a rage on Boxing Day and stamped on a Christmas present which was a remote control car and punched a TV.
On January 12 Smith called Sandra on a friend’s mobile phone, chillingly telling her he would “kill her” when he saw her next.
On February 16, Smith drove his car at Sandra and clipped her with the vehicle and weeks later he attacked her again when he saw her talking to another man.
Sandra finally called police when Smith punched her in the face while holding a knife in his other hand.
The savage attack left Sandra needing six stitches to her left eye.
Smith, of Warndon, Worcs., was found guilty of assault by beating, dangerous driving, criminal damage and malicious communication at Kidderminster Magistrate’s Court.
Prosecutor Kerry Lovegrove said: “She called the police and tried to run away but he grabbed her and punched her in the face.
“She had her hands in front of her face to protect her herself.”
Police arrived to arrest Smith and Miss O’Brien-Jones then saw he was holding a knife.
Christopher Aggrey, defending, said: “He was going to hurt himself with that knife – he did not intend to use the knife on the victim.
“He has shown remorse.
“I don’t think she (Miss O’Brien-Jones) has given up on him. If I could talk to her she would be saying ‘get this man some help’.
“He can see she has helped him in a difficult time.
“I believe she will make a full recovery from her injuries.
“Until this offence he has hardly anything on his record – his last offence is in 1994. You could say he is of previous good character.
“The relationship is well and truly over.”
Speaking after the case, Sandra, who has two boys aged seven and eight, said: “At first he was lovely, he couldn’t do enough for me.
“It was when I saw the knife I realised I could not continue the relationship.
“I didn’t see him again after that. I got quite a lot of help from the police, domestic violence and Women’s Aid support groups.
“I just thought he was upset and he had started getting help and I didn’t think it was going to happen again – I was wrong.
“I thought he was going to kill me because he just didn’t stop punching me in the face.”
She is now urging other women who are victims of domestic abuse to report their violent partners to police.
She added: “It was hard to give evidence in court and to go through it all again but it had to be done.
“I want him to get help. I don’t think just being stuck in prison and forgotten will help but it is not the sort of help I can give him. He needs professional help.
“I just want to tell other people in my position, ‘don’t stay quiet – tell your friends or the police.’ They should not be getting away with this sort of behaviour.”
Smith will be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on May 25.
