"After Suffering a Broken Rib from My Ex, I'm Heartbroken to Learn He Could Be Released Early Due to Overcrowded Jails"

COWERING as her violent partner rained blows down on her, Chloe Williams was horrified to hear a popping sound in her back.

When Jordan Smith eventually ended his attack, she found that one of her ribs was broken and poking through her skin.

Chloe Williams bravely went forward to the police after being abused by her former partner Credit: Focus Features Jordan Smith subjected Chloe to five years of abuse, including cracking her rib, strangling her and covering her in bruises Credit: Focus Features

The attack was the worst in a long nightmare of mental and physical abuse which saw Chloe come close to ending her own life.

After years of living in fear, Chloe was eventually brave enough to make a complaint and Smith was jailed for four years.

But she has now been warned that he will shortly be freed as part of government attempts to

This autumn, legal changes will be implemented which will see violent criminals released early.

Smith could be soon released as part of government’s attempt to ease jail crowding Credit: Focus Features Chloe’s protruding rib, after Smith attacked her Credit: Focus Features

The first 700 offenders are likely to be released in September – and Smith is expected to be amongst them.

Chloe says: “I was horrified when I got the email warning me he was coming up for release – he’s been in jail less than a year.

“I was just starting to feel safe in my own home and now I’m living in fear again.

“It took so much courage to see this through the justice system, and I feel completely let down.

Chloe admitted she is ‘living in fear’ over Smith’s release Credit: Focus Features Injuries Chloe sustained from Smith before he was jailed Credit: Focus Features

“I feel traumatised all over again. What is the point of making a complaint if perpetrators are not punished?

“This is a blow for all victims, and it will discourage people from reporting abuse.

“Jordan is a danger not only to me, but to all women. He’s not safe out on the streets and he’ll do it again.”

Smith subjected Chloe to five years of abuse, including cracking her rib, strangling her and covering her in bruises.

Chloe moved in with her ex just before her 18th birthday Credit: Focus Features After years of living in fear, Chloe was eventually brave enough to make a police complaint and Smith was jailed for four years Credit: Focus Features

He also blamed her for a previous sexual assault during which she was raped.

When she tried to leave him, he would threaten to kill her.

At the end of October 2025, Smith, aged 29, was jailed for four years and handed a 10-year restraining order.

Chloe, 25, says: “The physical abuse was horrific, but the emotional abuse was worse. He knew I’d been sexually assaulted as a child, but he’d tell me I deserved it, because I was a slut.

After years of living in fear, Chloe was eventually brave enough to make a police complaint and Smith was jailed for four years Credit: Focus Features Chloe said Smith alienated her from everyone she knew Credit: Focus Features

“When he hit me, he’d say I made him do it. I started to think it was actually my fault, and I was losing my sanity.

“He pushed me to the brink where I really thought I might be better off ending my life.”

As a child aged 15, Chloe was sexually assaulted.

She says: “I was vulnerable afterwards, and that was when I met Jordan. He was five years older, he seemed like he would look after me and protect me.

Chloe has a new partner, David, pictured, and credits her cat, Puss in Boots, for pulling her through her darkest moments Credit: Focus Features Chloe was beaten by her ex – and claims he pushed her ‘to the brink’ Credit: Focus Features

“There were early warning signs; he had a very short temper with other men. But he was always nice with me.”

The couple moved in together just before Chloe’s 18th birthday.

Chloe says: “When we started living together, Jordan became controlling. He didn’t let me wear make-up and I wasn’t allowed my hair down because he thought I was cheating on him.

“He was jealous of all other men, even our male neighbours. I wasn’t allowed friends and couldn’t see my family. He took my phone off me and controlled my money.

“He was even jealous of my cat, Puss in Boots, and he was forever shouting at him. I always stood up for my cat, and Jordan hated that.

“He told me it was my own fault I’d been sexually assaulted. He was verbally very cruel, and my confidence was in shreds.

“I had nobody to turn to because he’d alienated me from everyone I knew.”

The couple split for a while after Chloe moved house to escape him, but early in 2022, he convinced her he had changed.

She says: “He moved in with me again, but he became violent. For a whole year, he hit me every day.

“I was covered with bruises; I had black eyes and strangulation marks around my neck. He used a knife to cut my ear.

“He said if I told anyone he’d kill me. He told me it was my fault he was violent, and I almost started to believe it. I was brainwashed.

“I lost my job as a cleaner because I turned up to work covered with bruises. I was supported by a team, but I was too afraid to make a complaint.”

In 2023, Smith flew into a rage after his account was frozen and took his fury out on Chloe, punching her as she lay in bed and popping her rib.

She says: “I heard it crunch, and I was in so much pain, but Jordan just laughed at me. He wouldn’t let me go to the doctor.”

Two days on, unable to breathe, she saw her GP, who confirmed her rib was broken and was protruding under her skin.

She says: “I was in agony. Jordan actually said he would not hit me for two days, because my rib was broken, as though this was something to be grateful for.

“I felt so hopeless. I was trapped. I even considered suicide. The only thing keeping me going was Puss-in-Boots.

“He is so affectionate and sweet. He would jump on my shoulders and cheer me up when I was upset.”

In 2024, Chloe moved house and hoped to flee Jordan once and for all. But when he tracked her down, she realised she had no choice but to go to the police.

She says: “I moved to a new place in a new town but somehow, he tracked me down. I was scared he might kill me.

“I went to the police, even though I was terrified.”

In 2025, Smith admitted five counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, actual bodily harm, two counts of intentional strangulation, and harassment.

He was jailed that October for four years and handed a ten-year restraining order at Liverpool Crown Court.

Chloe has a new partner, David, and credits her cat, Puss in Boots, for pulling her through her darkest moments.

She says: “It was traumatic, going through the court process but I was so relieved when he was jailed.

“I felt stronger, I started a new relationship, I was enjoying my life. Just being able to wear make-up or go to the shop on my own felt like such a blessing.

“But now, I’m on tenterhooks, back to living on my nerves. I just cannot believe, after all he did, he is considered safe for release after less than a year in prison. I am the one serving the sentence, not him.

“I understand the government is trying to address over-crowding, but the victims have been completely forgotten in all of this.”

A spokesperson said: “This government is fixing the prison crisis it inherited – building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals.

“Without this decisive action, prisons would have run out of space entirely, making it impossible for convicted offenders to be sent to prison and risking the complete breakdown of the criminal justice system, putting the public at untold risk.

“Public safety and supporting victims is our top priority.

“Offenders who a judge has deemed the most dangerous are automatically blocked from early release, and prisoners who behave badly while behind bars face being locked up for longer.

“Anyone who is released faces tough rules such as restrictions on their movements, tagging, being banned from attending public events, pubs and clubs, backed by our record £700m investment into probation and 1,300 extra probation officers.”