Brett James Smith jailed after assaulting sex worker in his apartment for than 10 years ago

A man with a violent past has had another year added on to his sentence after pleading guilty to a horrifying assault for than a decade ago.

An incarcerated man who has a long standing history of violent and sexual matters will spend longer behind bars, after pleading guilty to more charges.

Brett James Smith, 52, appeared via video link in the Adelaide District Court on Monday for sentencing on charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm.

The court heard, between July 2013 and October 2014, Smith had engaged with a sex worker to provide a service to him but under a false name.

Brett James Smith jailed after assaulting a sex worker in his apartment over 10 years ago. Pic: Istock

“Your real name and photo were on a poster at brothels, warning sex workers about your violent tendencies,” Judge Paul Muscat said.

The victim attended Smith’s apartment where she found correspondence addressed to his real name after she became “concerned and angry” confronting him about the truth.

“When she tried to leave you blocked her at the exit and pushed her away from the door.

Smith’s “true colours” then emerged as he became angry and aggressive.

The victim continued to try to leave the apartment, pleading with Smith to let her go.

Smith grabbed the victim and forced her into a bedroom,” Judge Muscat said.

“She was fighting you off, clawing at your face … you forced her on to the bed while strangling her.

“She was struggling and began to run out of breath.”

When the victim stopped struggling, Smith removed his hands around her neck before telling her “if she screamed he would kill her”.

The victim eventually left the apartment later in the evening.

The court heard Smith is currently serving a term of imprisonment for another crime he committed where he broke into his former girlfriend’s home, threatened her with a knife, sexually assaulted her and sparked a police siege.

That offending saw Smith jailed for 10 years in 2016.

Judge Muscat sentenced Smith to a total of one year and 10 months imprisonment, on top of the sentence he is already serving.