Canterbury city wall, where the attack happened. Library picture

by Paul Hooper

Drunken thug Tommy Ellis punched his girlfriend so hard on Canterbury's city wall, the thud was heard by police 20 metres away.

The 20-year-old bully spat at Joanne Henson, grabbed her throat before attempting to throw her over the wall.

Amazingly, as officers ran to her aid fearing she would be hurled down the 20 foot drop, she turned on THEM - claiming she and her lover had been "play fighting".

But CCTV footage revealed a sustained assault in which she was pushed backwards over the wall with the lout shouting: 'I'm going to kill you!"

And, as a judge decided whether or not to jail Ellis for the attack, Ms Henson– who had been described by her boyfriend as "a disgusting skank" – paced nervously outside court seven at Canterbury Crown Court.

The CPS barrister had earlier revealed how she had refused help in the prosecution of Ellis, of South Street, Canterbury, for assault.

When told that Ellis had escaped with a suspended sentence, Ms Henson smiled and then hugged her boyfriend as he left court.

Prosecutor James Ross told how the attack happened in December last year when Ellis was seen to punch his victim, with whom he had been in "an intimate" relationship for a number of years.

"He grabbed her by the hair and by the throat. He was pushing her, shouting in her ear. He then picked her up as if to tip her over the city wall."

Canterbury Crown, where Ellis's case was heard

A witness later told police he heard a man threatening to kill the girl and throw her off the bridge.

He called her a "skank" and "disgusting".

The witness added: "She ran after him. She was clearly drunk and struggling with her heels and crying. He then slapped her really hard across the face. Her whole body moved with the force.

"I saw the male pull her hair down and bend her down over the railings. He then hit her some more."

PC Christopher Burnham revealed in his statement how, as he walked along the wall past the obelisk, he spotted Ellis "pull back his right fist and punch a blonde-haired female square in the face".

He and his colleague were 20 metres away "yet the sound of the blow connecting with the female’s face was audible", he said.

As the officer produced pepper spray to tackle the raging Ellis, the attacker stepped back and offered his hands to be arrested.

It was then that Ms Henson said: "What for... play fighting?", the court heard.

Mr Ross said: "The blonde female began screaming at the police and has refused any co-operation with the authorities whatsoever."

Ellis committed the shocking attack in breach on another suspended prison sentence for having an axe in public. Ellis also admitted a charge of theft.

Philip Rowley, defending, claimed Ellis suffered from ADHD and had anger management issues.

Ellis was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £80 compensation for stealing a washing machine.

The judge, Recorder Vincent Moran QC ruled that Ellis be electronically tagged and remain at his home between 8pm and 6am for the next six months.