Sunderland man jailed for 12 YEARS after stabbing girlfriend and forcing her to hide in the loft

Horrified witnesses called 999 after they saw Martin Goldsmith chase his victim down the street then drag her into his house by her hair as she desperately "struggled, thrashed and screamed".

Newcastle Crown Court heard officers were dispatched to the property and Goldsmith answered the door, naked and claimed he was at home alone.

But the court heard a noise from the loft led cops to a woman, Goldsmith's then partner, who was lying in a pool of blood with injuries to her mouth and nose and a stab wound to her side that had punctured her liver.

Prosecutor Jo Kidd told the court when officers got to the house in New Herrington, Sunderland, they saw "clumps of hair on the path" and "further clumps and blood" along the road leading to it.

When they knocked on the door they heard a muffled disturbance before Goldsmith answered, "completely naked".

Miss Kidd said: "He asked the officers what had been going on and said 'I've been asleep'.

"When asked if anyone else was in the property he said no.

"The officers then noticed further spots of blood and clumps of hair in the hallway of the home address and smears of blood on the staircase.

"They began to search the home and while on the face of it it looked empty, one of the officers shouted 'is there anyone there' and at that point the officers heard a noise from the loft.

"Three officers then tried to open the loft, where, when open they discovered the complainant, in a large pool of blood, injured and distressed."

The court heard the victim was taken to hospital, bleeding heavily, and had to be sedated and ventilated on arrival.

Medics discovered she had a stab wound to the liver and bruising to her face and across her body.

The court heard the attack happened in 2015 and Goldsmith was acquitted at trial after he convinced the victim to tell the jury he was not her attacker.

The acquittal was quashed after letters were found that proved Goldsmith had made the woman lie about what happened to her.

He was due to be tried again last year, and made a further contact with her in a bid to stop her going to court and telling to the truth, but eventually pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

The 37-year-old, now of Bodmin Square, Sunderland, also admitted breach of a restraining order which was meant to keep him away from her by contacting her from prison and perverting the course of justice.

Judge Edward Bindloss has now jailed Goldsmith for a total of 12 years and nine months with a four-year extended licence period "for the protection of the public".

Judge Bindloss said he was satisfied Goldsmith is "dangerous" and added: "It is clear she was in a great deal of pain from the wound to the side of her ribcage. She was left in the loft, bleeding, while the police were looking for her."

The court heard at the time of the attack Goldsmith was out on licence from a jail sentence imposed in 2011 for attacking a different partner with a flower vase and causing a wound to her head that needed 12 stitches before stabbing the woman's brother, who had tried to help, and leaving his ear "hanging off".

In 2018 Goldsmith argued with different former girlfriend while driving a car, threatened to slash her and drove so dangerously that she fell out of the vehicle and was knocked unconscious.

Ronan Maguire, defending, said Goldsmith wants to explore the reasons for his behaviour as he is "intent upon changing it".

Mr Maguire said Goldsmith had a traumatic childhood and is committed to his own three children.

The court heard Goldsmith has shown "genuine remorse" for his behaviour.

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