A Southampton pub landlady has spoken about 'horrendous' abuse from her 'bully' ex-partner - who squeezed her C-section wound days after having their baby.
Jake Worster grabbed Anneliese Smith's face, pushed her onto her bed, wrapped his legs around her and squeezed her torso - leaving her in agony, Southampton Crown Court heard.
He then grasped her ankle, yanked her off the bed and slapped her in the face before getting their three-week-old son and kicked the bedroom door which she was holding from the other side.
The shocking incident, sparked after Anneliese asked him if he wanted to put on another pair of trainers as his were muddy, was part of a long list of abusive acts by the 31-year-old Londoner, leaving her feeling 'worthless' and 'anxious'.
After Worster walked free on Monday last week, the 33-year-old, who runs The Prince of Wales in Northam, told the Echo: "It has knocked my confidence. I'm in a role where I have to be confident and I have to be able to stand my ground to bad behaviour.
"It was just horrendous. He had no empathy and no compassion. It gave me anxiety and depression and now I don’t want to leave my flat."
But she bravely encouraged women in a similar position to her to speak out: "Reach out and confide in your friends and family or professionals."
The abuse began shortly after the pair met in February 2019 when Worster came into her pub but the relationship became progressively worse throughout the five years they were together.
The court heard he had been previously convicted for offences involving Anneliese dating back to June 2020, when he choked, punched and kicked her, as well as damaging property - receiving a suspended sentence.
But things escalated again when she found out she was pregnant with their son in May 2023 with his abusive outbursts continuing until two days before she gave birth on November 8 last year.
The court heard he would manipulate Anneliese financially, asking for money for food when he actually wanted to buy drugs and alcohol.
He told her to kill herself while carrying their unborn child and called her 'worthless', 'overweight' and 'fat' after she gave birth, telling her to 'get to the gym'.
On another occasion, Worster threatened to hit her when she commented how dangerous the road was while he was driving - coming within inches of her face.
Anneliese said: "If I tried to leave him, he would get so angry. I would defend myself but he would get worse and then you get to the point where you don’t defend yourself.
"It was only when I was pregnant that I realised I am not part of the problem.
"When you're pregnant you can't get into any altercation because you need to protect the baby so that is when I realised I am not defending myself and it is still happening."
He was arrested on December 1, days after the incident when he squeezed the scar at her home in Romsey on November 28, when one of her friends reported his abuse to the police.
But the court heard he continued to contact her, ignoring his bail conditions - something he denied doing.
Worster pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, two counts of assault by beating and two counts of common assault.
At his sentencing, Judge Robert Hill, Assistant Judge Advocate General, branded him an “out and out bully who gets violent".
Representing himself, Worster said he is now living in London again and has got clean from drink and drugs thanks to a “lifetime” job with Network Rail which means he regularly gets tested.
He said: "I am not here to make any excuses. We was in a toxic relationship.
“I know I have done bad. From this past year I have made a 360 turnaround.
“Just give me one chance to show you that I have changed. I don’t want to go to prison today and take 100 steps back.”
He was given another suspended sentence: 15-months, suspended for two years, and also handed a six-month restraining order.
But, Anneliese said: "I am just a bit disappointed that it is another suspended sentence. I thought where he had been convicted before it would be maybe a bit worse for him."
She said: "I am just exhausted from it. I have lost my social life completely.
"Hopefully the six-month restraining order gives him to learn how to treat people better."
In the future, Anneliese hoped Worster would be in their son's life and that they could co-parent.
Despite the rollercoaster of the court process, the mum-of-two said it was worth it - and encouraged other women with similar stories to hers not to suffer in silence.
She said: "So many people are scared and the process is long, but speaking to these professionals, it really does give you the clarity that you are not wrong.
"Even if you don’t get the result you want in court, you can still get better mental health and a better outlook on things."
Worster must also complete five rehabilitation days, 30 sessions on an accredited programme and pay £100 compensation for the damage to the door.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article