A man who suffered years of abuse at the hands of his wife feared that he would eventually die, a court heard.
Cara Smith punched, kicked, scratched and verbally abused her husband over the course of several years.
She also took his phone away and kept him from seeing his family – and even continued harassing him after being told by a court to stay away.
The abuse and coercive control began almost a decade after they commenced their relationship – with Smith’s partner logging the abuse in photographs.
Mold Crown Court heard that she would stub cigarettes out on his chest, dig her arms and legs into his back after he underwent spinal surgery, causing him to suffer sleepless nights.
Laura Knightly, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship since 2009, which was going well until her mood changed in 2018, when the controlling and coercive behaviour started and she began behaving violently towards the victim.
Smith’s drinking was a factor, the court heard. Smith was said to spend £500 a month on wine.
When she was on bail and told not to contact him, she persisted and the relationship resumed.
Cara Smith has been sentenced after admitting subjecting her husband to years of horrific abuse
Family and colleagues could see the effect the abuse had, the court was told, with his injuries evident.
He also sent a video to his sister–in–law of Smith trying to break the door down to a ‘panic room’ he would go to in order to get away.
In February this year, after an argument, she hurled verbal abuse at him and threw a fireplace companion set, striking his head.
The police were called and when officers arrived he broke down crying and told them: ‘I will end up dead.’
Her victim would later say that he did not think his wife was a bad person – but needed help.
The court also heard the couple had been upset when Smith was told in 2012 she could not have children following operations on her stomach.
Smith, 47, of Kelsall, Chester, admitted engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, between January 2018 and March 2025 and two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in August last year and February this year.
The offences were reported to have happened in Flintshire.
She had one previous conviction for violence against her husband. A pre–sentence report said she was of high risk of harm unless protective measures were put in place.
Elan Owen, defending, said she was hard working, had a supportive family and had turned a corner.
She had also experienced anxiety and depression during the relationship, which had become ‘toxic’.
Cara Smith was sentenced at Mold Crown Court after admitting coercive and controlling conduct and assault occasioning actual bodily harm
She had endured problems in her childhood and her drinking had also changed her personality.
But Recorder Anna Price said the offending was so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.
She said: ‘This was a campaign of controlling behaviour and violence towards your husband over a period of several years.’
She added: ‘You were able to carry on a normal life and behave properly with family and friends, you were able to work and carry on a career.’
Yet when she was with her husband, the judge said, ‘you behaved in a violent and controlling manner’.
Smith was sentenced to 27 months in prison. She will be released no later than when half has been served, with the remainder on licence.
Smith already had an electronic curfew monitor on for 124 days, which would count towards the sentence.
She was also given a 10 year restraining order from contacting the victim, with a surcharge also to be paid.
