[A] violent thug who travelled more than 150 miles to assault his ex-girlfriend as she enjoyed a night out in Newcastle has been jailed.
Phillip Smith, 24, is today behind bars after admitting to the sustained assault of his former partner in the city centre in April.
The 21-year-old woman had been enjoying a weekend with friends after travelling from her home town in the Clydebank area of Scotland.
Smith had already attempted to stop her travelling down to Newcastle before deciding to travel down himself in a jealous rage.
Newcastle Crown Court was told how he eventually found her in town and assaulted her in a back alley before pressuring her to return to his nearby hotel.
Once they arrived at his room, the terrified victim attempted to escape from Smith.
CCTV cameras in the hotel captured the moment he chased her down, tackled her, picked her up and forced her into his hotel room before subjecting her to a brutal and sustained assault.
Concerned guests soon alerted hotel staff to what was going on after overhearing the violent 15 minute attack, allowing the victim to escape.
A friend of Smith alerted him that police were on their way, leading him to flee the hotel and travel back up to Scotland.
The guests who had alerted staff about the assault then looked after the shaken victim until police and paramedics arrived to treat her injuries.
Smith, of Canberra Avenue, Glasgow, was arrested in Scotland three days later before being charged with kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He admitted the assault charge but the kidnap charge was laid on file as he was sent to prison for 28 months by a judge.
Following the case, investigating officer Detective Constable Rob Thorpe, of Northumbria Police’s Central CID, praised the victim.
He said: “I have reviewed all the CCTV footage of this incident and have no doubt that Phillip Smith is a violent and dangerous offender.
“He travelled more than 150 miles with the intention of teaching his ex-girlfriend a lesson, and his behaviour is an extreme example of something we see regularly from offenders in abusive, coercive and controlling relationships.
“The victim in this case has been incredibly brave and I know that this ordeal has been very difficult for her and her family.
“I hope she can take some comfort from the fact that Smith is now behind bars where he cannot harm her anymore.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the two guests who alerted hotel staff about the assault before taking the victim to safety, and the staff member who also intervened.
“Without their brave involvement this incident could have had a very different outcome and I would like to thank them for their actions, which undoubtedly prevented much more serious injury.”
