A man who subjected his ex-partner to violence in the UK and while on holiday abroad after they met online has been handed a jail term.
Kyle Speight, 36, left his former girlfriend physically and mentally scarred by a series of violent attacks which led her to say in an impact statement: “The only way this could have been worse is if I was dead.”
Details of Speight’s attacks were outlined as he was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today.
After Speight and the woman met online, he quickly moved from his Greater Manchester base into her Penrith home.
“The relationship lasted a mere 16 weeks,” said prosecutor Kim Whittlestone. “But within those 16 weeks the victim was subjected to numerous violent offences by this defendant.”
The woman’s mother believed from an early stage that Speight was love-bombing her daughter as the relationship progressed very quickly.
After a night out in Penrith, Speight became drunk, jealous and punched the woman to her face, causing bruising.
Four days later, as they attended a wedding in Whitehaven, Speight subjected the woman to prolonged violence in a hotel bedroom. During a 15-minute ordeal, Speight struck her to the head and body, kneeling on her back up to her neck, preventing her from breathing.
After the woman recorded some of the incident, Speight stamped on her phone.
Even most serious violence occurred while the couple were in Crete on holiday on a day when Speight had knocked back 10 pints and 10 cocktails.
He hit, kicked and slapped the woman before striking her which a mug which broke, severed her lip and left her bleeding. “She bought herself some nail glue and tried to glue the injury that he had caused her to her face,” said Miss Whittlestone.
Three days, the woman was assaulted once more by Speight at their hotel as he slapped her face and reopened the wound.
“I am permanently marked on my face, stamped almost,” the woman later said in an impact statement. “It’s difficult to comprehend that the person who I loved and was supposed to love me did this to me, did this to my face, my heart and my head.”
Yet the woman said defiantly: “This has beaten me down emotionally physically and financially but I won’t be defeated.”
Speight, of Plodder Lane, Bolton, admitted causing intentional wounding, three other assault, strangulation and criminal damage.
The court heard of his mental health difficulties, childhood trauma and remorse, but also of previous violence towards partners, including a headbutt which knocked one unconscious. Three previous girlfriends had sought formal protection from him.
Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a 63-month prison term and ordered Speight to serve an extended two-year licence period. He must serve two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for release and was banned from contacting the woman indefinitely.
“You clearly demonstrate a threat to those with whom you are in a relationship,” concluded Judge Barker.
“Throughout the attacks you used abuse and insulting language towards her. You told her she would die in Crete and essentially reduced (her) to into a woman that was embodied by nothing but fear of what was going to happen to her.
“This is a serious series of violent attacks upon a young woman in a domestic context.”
