MOTHER OF THREE SENTENCED FOR 20-YEAR CAMPAIGN OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
A woman named Sheree Spencer, aged 45, has been sentenced to 4 years in prison after a lengthy campaign of domestic abuse against her husband.The court heard that Spencer, who is a mother of three, engaged in persistent violent and controlling behaviour over a period of five years, from January 2016 to June 2021.
Her actions included punching, kicking, slapping, biting, and ragging her husband around, leaving him fearing for his life.
Notably, she once hit him with a wine bottle, causing disfigurement with a cauliflower ear and a chipped elbow.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Spencer was often drunk, consuming up to three bottles of wine a day.
She admitted to coercive and controlling behaviour and three assaults causing actual bodily harm between January and April 2020.
The court was presented with extensive evidence, including 43 photographs of injuries, 36 video clips, and nine mobile recordings.
Her violence was sometimes triggered by alcohol or prescription medication, which the judge described as causing her to behave in a way that "appalled" everyone.
Spencer's violent outbursts also included spitting at her husband, grabbing him by the throat, damaging his property, and lurching at him with a knife, leaving a 2cm cut below his knee.
Her behaviour caused her husband to become estranged from his family, and he read a statement in court detailing his 20 years of physical and mental abuse, which he said had deeply scarred him and made him feel trapped.
The court highlighted the severity of her actions, describing the incidents as "persistent, nasty physical and emotional abuse," often happening multiple times a day.
Spencer showed utter contempt and continued her assault despite her husband's fear and distress.
A recording described her as having a short temper and being coercive and controlling, with her conduct escalating in London where she assaulted him with a wine glass, leaving him stitches.
The judge emphasised the significant psychological harm caused, noting a history of violence and abuse.
Spencer was given an indefinite restraining order, but even as she left the court, she grinned, demonstrating her lack of remorse.
