Man jailed after attacking woman at Gloucester home in front of children
Jeremiah Joshua Smith, 40, of no fixed address was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court
A man who repeatedly assaulted a woman at her home in Gloucester while children were present has been jailed for more than five years.
Jeremiah Joshua Smith, 40, of no fixed address, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to one woman and assault by beating to a second woman.
Gloucester Crown Court heard today (March 18) how the victim had to push the children out of a downstairs window so that they could be safe from Smith, who was in possession of a knife.
The victim's children, who had been having a sleepover with their friends, all fled over a garden fence and sought refuge with a neighbour.
During sentencing Recorder R. Weekes KC said Smith was a danger to future partners and jailed him for five years and eight months, with an extended sentence of a further three years on licence.
Smith has also been given a restraining order for 15 years in relation to the two victims, a prosecution witness and the neighbour who helped the children.
He is also prohibited from entering Kingsway.
The court heard how Smith has 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 aged 19.
Miss Luscombe, prosecuting, outlined that Smith accosted one victim at her home in July last year (2025) hitting her severely in the head, and refused to allow her to stand, as he continued to physically assault her.
The other victim, who was once in a relationship with Smith, broke off the relationship through a message in July last year (2025) and Smith turned up at her address four days later.
Miss Luscombe told the court that on July 31 2025 Smith used a key to enter her home, and the victim woke in the living room at around 7am to find Smith standing over her.
Her two children and their two friends were also asleep in the living room after having a sleep over.
Smith claimed he wouldn't hurt her but took a knife from the kitchen and then punched her, nearly causing her to lose consciousness.
While the victim was on the floor it was heard how Smith picked up a second knife, with a knife in each hand, and told the victim to clean her own blood off the floor.
He also smashed her phone, asked the victim to remove the sim card, and he then bent it.
The attack continued in front of the children until Smith's turned his back, allowing the victim to push the children out of a window away from danger.
Police arrived and found the victim with a slash wound to the leg and a gash on her head and she was taken to hospital for treatment.
An X-ray at hospital then revealed she had sustained a fractured spine.
Smith fled the scene and attempts were made to arrest him, with a public wanted appeal issued by police in a bid to locate him. Smith handed himself into police the day after the appeal.
In interview he gave a prepared statement and denied picking up the knives or slashing the victim, and said that the victim had hit him with a bottle to the back of the head, however he did not show any injuries to police.
An investigation by Gloucestershire Police led to his charge for seven offenses, two of which he admitted during the trial while remaining counts were dropped.
Smith's defence barrister, Miss Jenkins, said that with the knife-related incident the victim was the first person to pick up a knife out of the knife block and that matters escalated from there.
She said Smith could not remember the order of events but that he had received two small puncture wounds to his stomach.
The court was told Smith accepted that he used a knife to strike the victim with the handle to the head, and that the slash wound to the leg was not deliberate.
It was heard how Smith has a pattern of offending specific to domestic abuse. Miss Jenkins said Smith can behave completely differently, and had undertaken garden work and house chores for one of the victims.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Philpott said: “It is clear that Smith poses a very real danger to the women who he forms a relationship with.
"The two victims in this case have been incredibly brave, and they were willing to stand in court and give evidence against Smith for his brutal actions against them.
"There were not only two victims in this case, but four children who were exposed to Smith's abhorrent and violent behaviour which involved knives.
"Smith's history of violence and threatening behaviour against women is appalling, and I thank the multiple victims who have worked with police over the years which has led to multiple convictions against him.
"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.
"We appreciate that reporting incidents relating to domestic abuse can be very difficult. Please do not suffer in silence and if you don't want to report what has happened to you to police, please know that there are support organisations available who can help you."