'Manipulative' man jailed for filming sex assaults

Bradley Smith "controlled" his vulnerable victim and tried to isolate her from her family, his trial was told.

A man who filmed himself sexually assaulting a woman and threatened to share the footage has been jailed for 12 years.

Bradley Smith, from Chelmsford, also killed the woman's pet hamster and sent her a picture of the dead animal.

"I was left feeling numb and emotionless, like I was not a human being anymore," the victim said in a statement read to Chelmsford Crown Court.

Smith, 46, was found guilty of two offences of assault by penetration and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, following a trial.

He had denied the offences but admitted disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress.

The court was told his offending came amid a campaign of "coercive and controlling" behaviour towards the victim.

Smith knew he could "manipulate and control" the victim, Chelmsford Crown Court heard

In her statement, she said: "Bradley had a way of making everything feel like it was my fault."

The victim added that she felt "guilt, embarrassment and shame" at the degrading footage taken of her while she was "incapacitated".

Judge Mary Loram KC said Smith, of Imperial Avenue, Chelmsford, targeted her vulnerability.

"You set your sights on her and you knew she was someone who you could manipulate and control," the judge said.

Peter Clark, mitigating, said Smith had been impacted by "his demons" and that he had been drug-free for two years to better himself.

Judge Loram imposed a restraining order banning Smith from contacting the victim or her family for an indefinite period.