A woman from Chester has been handed a prison sentence after subjecting her husband to sustained, violent and controlling abuse over several years. Cara Smith, aged 47, appeared before Mold Crown Court where she admitted to a campaign of coercive and abusive behaviour, which left her partner living in fear and isolation.
The disturbing series of events began in 2018, when Smith’s attitude towards her husband radically changed after almost a decade together. The court heard how she would punch, kick and scratch him, hurling insults and regularly subjecting him to humiliation. On one occasion, Smith extinguished a lit cigarette on her husband’s chest. Even after he underwent major spinal surgery, she deprived him of sleep, intentionally pressing her arms and legs into his back at night, compounding his suffering and exhaustion.
The scale of the abuse extended beyond physical violence. Prosecutors described how the victim was cut off from friends and family, his personal possessions destroyed, and his phone seized by Smith in efforts to control every aspect of his life. The psychological toll was substantial, and the victim began keeping photographic evidence of his injuries as the abuse escalated. Smith’s heavy drinking was cited in court as a factor that contributed to her volatile and unpredictable behaviour.
Despite being ordered by the court to stay away while on bail, Smith breached the conditions and re-entered her husband’s life. Family members and work colleagues noticed the negative transformation in the victim, reporting visible injuries and a marked change in his emotional state. In one particularly alarming incident, the victim filmed Smith trying to break down the door to a “panic room” he had established within the home for self-protection—a stark indicator of his desperation.
The ongoing ordeal reached a breaking point in February this year when Smith attacked her husband during a heated argument by throwing a metal fireplace accessory at his head. When police arrived at the scene, the man broke down and, through tears, told officers, “I will end up dead.” This harrowing statement encapsulated the sense of hopelessness and danger he experienced over the years.
Appearing before the court, Smith admitted to controlling and coercive behaviour spanning from January 2018 to March 2025, as well as to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm from incidents in August 2024 and February 2025—all committed in Flintshire. Defence counsel Elan Owen highlighted Smith’s work ethic and supportive family network, claiming she had endured a difficult childhood and suffered anxiety and depression, which were exacerbated by her drinking and the deterioration of her marriage.
It also came to light that Smith and her husband had suffered personal tragedy in 2012 when they learnt they could not have children. Nonetheless, the judge, Recorder Anna Price, made it clear that the seriousness and persistence of Smith’s actions left her with no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. Recorder Price stated: “This was a campaign of controlling behaviour and violence towards your husband over a period of several years.” She emphasised the contrast between Smith’s outwardly normal relationship with others and the violent, abusive conduct she reserved for her husband behind closed doors.
Smith received a 27-month prison sentence, with credit given for the 124 days she had already spent wearing an electronic curfew tag. She is expected to serve at least half of her sentence before being released on licence. In addition to her jail time, Smith was made subject to a ten-year restraining order, prohibiting her from contacting the victim, as well as being ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
Cases such as this shine a harsh light on the reality of domestic abuse which, as experts remind us, can impact anyone regardless of gender, relationship dynamics, or outward appearances. Campaigners continue to call for better education, support, and protective measures for victims, as well as effective interventions for those at risk of perpetrating abuse.
Those affected by domestic violence in the UK are urged to seek help through organisations such as Refuge, Women’s Aid, and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline to ensure their safety and access to resources during difficult times.