He was heard shouting loudly by his girlfriend as she tried to sleep upstairs at their Trafford home. Smith, of Widnes, then told her to ‘call the police before something happens’, before threatening her, Manchester Magistrates Court heard. He then began hitting her to the face and body, and despite moving downstairs, the attack carried on for 30 minutes. Their American Bulldog was barking and growling at Smith, who then began to punch it 'around 20 times', the court was told. “She woke up at 2.30am and could hear the defendant shouting out downstairs.

Source: Daily Mirror July 22, 2020 16:30 UTC