A violent dad who headbutted and bit his girlfriend in a brutal attack on her birthday cried out to his mum as he was jailed today.

Reece Cannon, 26, throttled his victim and drew blood after striking her in the face, before telling her: “I’m sorry that you made me do that.”

As he was sentenced to 35 months in prison, he started crying and shouted out to the public gallery: "Mum, this isn’t justice.”

Canterbury Crown Court heard police had been alerted by a neighbour who witnessed the assault in the reflection of a window.

When officers arrived at Canon's home in Forty Acres Road, Canterbury, he lied to officers before running out of the back door.

Even after he was caught he denied the assault - which lasted up to 10 minutes in March last year - until finally pleading guilty on the day his trial was listed to be heard.

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “This was an appalling case of domestic violence, carried out when you were on bail for other offences of four cases of violence."

Prosecutor Lucy Luttman said the victim, a mother of a young child, moved into the three-bedroom council house Cannon shared with his three children.

During a birthday BBQ, Cannon got “very drunk” and became violent after his girlfriend started hiding alcohol to stop him drinking more.

Ms Luttman said: "He grabbed her and bit her cheek and headbutted her, repeatedly telling her it was all her fault. She got away and ran upstairs.

“In the bedroom he pushed her to the floor, got on top of her and grabbed her around the throat. He then put his thumb inside her mouth and scraped the inside of her cheek.

“He then punched her in the face, causing blood to squirt as she clawed at him to get away."

After his arrest, Cannon claimed his victim had been “paralytic” and “manipulative” and was trying to fight him but ended up hurting herself.

The victim later told police she had undergone counselling to deal with abuse, adding: "I will never again be in a relationship like this.”

Phil Rowley, defending, said that since Cannon’s arrest and remand to prison his children are now under care of others and he faces having his house returned to the council.

Judge O’Mahony ruled that Cannon had to stay away from his ex-girlfriend indefinitely.