Maisie Henderson, 24, was pregnant with Freddy Smith’s child as he attacked her with weapons including a sword, razor blade and metal pole. Smith was jailed for six years
After enduring a life of violent and degrading abuse that became her norm, Maisie Henderson now finds solace in her “boring life” following the imprisonment of her monstrous ex-partner.
The 24-year-old was pregnant with Freddy Smith’s child when he subjected her to his brutal attacks. In one horrifying incident, he even forced her to drink his blood.
Smith, also known by the alias Campbell, received a six-year prison sentence after admitting to crimes including wounding with intent, strangulation, and controlling or coercive behaviour. Today, having finally broken free from her nightmarish relationship, Maisie has shared her harrowing experience with Chronicle Live.
The mother-of-two, from Ryton in Gateshead, has openly expressed her desire for a peaceful life after being terrorised in her own home.
She said: “I feel like it has taught us to be more positive in a weird way. I look at things through a different lens. I’m happy just living in a house where it’s peaceful now. I live a boring life now. Everything is just about keeping us safe.”
Maisie first met Smith during her school years, and they started dating when she was 17.
“I always thought he was lovely,” she said. “I was really happy. But there were things that happened that if they happened now I would know they were red flags. We used to split up and get back together all the time.”
However, it was when Maisie became pregnant with their first child that Smith’s physical violence began to escalate.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that numerous assaults occurred between 2021 and 2022, even though Smith was aware his partner was expecting his baby.
The victim endured attacks with a “variety of weapons”, including a razor blade, a metal weightlifting pole and a sword, the court heard.
Smith, 24, of East Lea, Winlaton, Gateshead, launched an assault on Maisie in December 2021 by hurling a mug and a chair at her.
He also exercised controlling behaviour by preventing her from using her phone or looking in the mirror whilst at his residence.
Around New Year 2022, Smith wielded a sword to stab her lower leg and foot, causing severe bleeding. She was left with permanent scarring from the puncture wounds.
In March 2022, he smashed a glass bottle against her finger, leaving it bruised and discoloured.
During another incident, he inflicted wounds by slashing her left thigh with a razor blade whilst she showered, creating a deep gash that exposed fat tissue and resulted in permanent scarring.
In a separate attack, he struck her head with a metal pole, causing it to split open.
In July 2022, he accused her of infidelity and strangled her, beat her legs with a metal pole and punched her approximately 25 times.
“It was really scary,” Maisie said. “I knew I was pregnant, I can remember just lying in bed praying my baby was going to be all right. It was horrible. I had never been through anything like that.”
Maisie revealed that following each assault, Smith would weep and attempt to manipulate her into feeling sympathy for him. “He would cry afterwards and said he didn’t understand what he was doing,” she revealed.
“He would look for my sympathy. He brainwashed me into thinking it was okay. Then something else happened and it was the same thing over and over. In the end it just became normal to us.
“It’s very difficult to know how I felt. It was hard to understand what was going on.”
Smith was ultimately arrested when Maisie’s mum reported her as missing and police arrived at their residence. “He wouldn’t let me leave the house and he wouldn’t let me go on my phone,” she revealed.
Smith subsequently admitted guilt to wounding with intent, wounding, four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation and controlling or coercive behaviour. He received a six-year prison sentence with an additional three-year extended licence period and was issued with a restraining order.
“It was a relief, but it was very hard on the day he was sentenced,” Maisie revealed. “I thought I should feel different but I didn’t. I just felt the same.”
Maisie is now attempting to reconstruct her life and has returned to college where she is pursuing nursing and midwifery studies.
“It’s left an impact on us,” she acknowledged. “I’m very fearful of people. I’m not very trusting. But my life itself is a lot better. I have gone back to college, I have got my two kids and I have got all my friends and family back.
“I don’t think of my son as his now. He’s his own person. It doesn’t even pop into my head.”
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