Man pulled out partner's teeth

JAILED FOR A YEAR FOR 'AGONISING' INJURIES

- MAXINE DENTON

A MAN pulled out his partner’s teeth with his bare hands in an attack that lasted around half an hour. David Wesley Smith, 59, then rinsed her mouth out with a shower head instead of taking her to the doctor.

Smith, of Launceston, appeared before Truro Crown Court for sentencing this week having pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of criminal damage.

Prosecuting the case, Sophie Johns described how Smith had been in an on-and-off relationship with his partner for 20 years and sometimes lived with her at her home in Launceston but sometimes he lived elsewhere.

On July 16, 2022, he went to her home with a box of beers and took the cans upstairs to drink them. The complainant noticed the defendant was “agitated and snappy” so stayed out in the garden looking after dogs. At around 10pm she thought he went to bed and thought it was safe to go inside. However, Ms Johns said the defendant heard her and came “flying downstairs shouting and screaming”, wanting her to come to bed. The victim then ran and slammed the door shut, hoping he would think she went back outside.