A 'terrible' husband has been jailed for domestic abuse after coercively controlling his wife for two years leading her to 'fear for her life'.

From August 2020 to May this year, Dylan Smithson, 23, coercively controlled his wife, a woman in her twenties.

This included isolating her from friends and family, preventing her from attending work events, regularly checking her phone, making threats if she did not answer his calls and texts immediately, controlling her social media, dictating what clothes she could wear and stopping her from wearing make-up.

The court heard how if the victim argued, he would threaten her with violence and threatened her with a knife on multiple occasions.

Towards the end of their relationship, the use of weapons and threats of violence escalated.

On Boxing Day last year, following an argument, Smithson pushed the victim down the stairs at their previous home in Aldershot, Hampshire, causing her to break her foot.

On 17 April this year, following an argument, Smithson hit and punched the victim at their home in Slough having relocated.

He threw numerous items at the victim before repeatedly hitting her with a clotheshorse and a steam mop, causing bruising to her body and cuts to her arm, face and legs.

A week later, on April 24 this year, following a verbal argument, Smithson assaulted the victim and threatened her with a knife at their home.

He told a friend, who witnessed the incident, he would kill the victim if police were called, causing her to fear for her life.

On May 18 this year, following a verbal argument, Smithson deliberately smashed the victim’s mobile phone at their home.

Detectives from Thames Valley Police’s Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit arrested Smithson the same day and he was charged the following day May 19.

Specialist investigator Beth McErlain, of the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “No person should have to endure what the victim was subjected to throughout her relationship with Dylan Smithson.

“His insecurities and violent temper led to the victim suffering both physical and psychological injuries that will take time to overcome.

“Smithson has rightly been given a custodial sentence and I hope this allows the victim to move on from the terrible ordeal she underwent and the sentence can bring some form of closure as she rebuilds her life.

“It is never acceptable for someone to act in this manner, making others’ lives a misery and we would encourage all victims to please report abuse.”

Smithson pleaded guilty to two counts of ABH and one count each of coercive and controlling behaviour, affray and criminal damage at Reading Crown Court on Friday, October 28.

He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.