UK man forces pregnant girlfriend to drink his blood, attacks her with sword and iron rod

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• Maisie Henderson endured severe abuse from partner Freddy Smith while pregnant
• Smith used weapons and coercive control; sentenced to six years in prison
• Henderson is now rebuilding her life and studying nursing and midwifery

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A case of extreme domestic abuse in the UK has drawn attention to the violence many women face behind closed doors, even as public debate continues around safety and equality.

Maisie Henderson, 24, from Gateshead, endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her partner, Freddy Smith, while she was pregnant with his child. A court heard that between 2021 and 2022, Smith repeatedly assaulted Henderson despite knowing about her pregnancy.

Prosecutors said Smith carried out multiple attacks using weapons including a sword, a razor blade and an iron rod. In one incident, he struck Henderson’s legs with a sword, causing deep injuries that left permanent scars. On another occasion, he cut her thigh with a blade while she was showering, leaving muscle tissue exposed.

The court was told that Smith also strangled Henderson, struck her head with an iron rod and punched her more than 20 times during one assault. In one of the most disturbing episodes described during the trial, Henderson said she was forced to drink Smith’s blood. She told the court that during many of the attacks, she lay still and prayed for the safety of her unborn child.

The abuse extended beyond physical violence. Henderson said Smith tightly controlled her life, locked her inside their home, took away her phone and prevented her from looking at herself in the mirror. After assaults, he would break down and seek sympathy, leading her to believe such behaviour was normal.

The violence came to light when Henderson’s mother reported her missing, prompting police intervention and Smith’s arrest. He was later sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm, strangulation and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Henderson has since begun rebuilding her life. She is now studying nursing and midwifery and says she finally lives a quiet, safe life, free from fear.