A thug warned his girlfriend he would "put her to sleep" during a campaign of abuse and violence she said "tore her life apart".

Lucas Hook, from Folkestone, terrorised his victim to such an extent she now fears she can never trust another man.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that on at least five separate occasions he subjected her to assaults which included headbutting, kicking to the chest and leg, and grabbing her throat.

The jealous 32-year-old also gripped her by her hair, stood on her foot, destroyed furniture and accused her of cheating during his angry, and sometimes drug- and drink-fuelled, outbursts.

Hook, who had previous convictions for domestic abuse, later admitted a string of offences, seven of which were carried out while he was on police bail.

Hook was described by a judge as not only having a long-term psychological impact on his victim but also having "degraded her quality of life".

The woman was visibly distraught at the sentencing hearing and sobbed as she tried to tell the court how she had been affected by her ordeal.

Hook, who appeared in court via prison video link, could be seen to bow his head and his lawyer later said on his behalf that he accepted "full responsibility" for his actions.

The court heard he was first reported to police after he headbutted the woman in March last year.

But while on bail Hook continued to repeatedly abuse and assault her over a six-week period.

Prosecutor James Ross described how during one episode of violence he had kicked open a door she had barricaded, which smashed against a chest of drawers causing it to collapse, and then put his hand on her throat, causing her to fear for her safety.

“I loved Lucas and I feel this was used against me as he thought I just would not leave him...”

On another occasion she was left with bruising after Hook kicked her leg and stood on her foot.

She was also winded by him forcibly booting her in the chest and suffered hair loss as a result of him pulling it "hard", added the prosecutor.

The threat to "put her to sleep" was made by Hook, said to be a musician, after he had spent the day drinking with friends and taking cocaine, the court was told.

"An argument took place in which he bent the victim backwards over some boxes, which made her scream with pain," said Mr Ross.

"The defendant put his hands over her face and tried to get her in a headlock. He said he would put her to sleep.

"But she freed herself and then ran to the nearest police station."

Hook, of Grimston Avenue, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to three offences of assault by beating and two of assault causing actual bodily harm, as well as controlling, coercive behaviour and damaging property.

Having broken down in tears in court, the woman’s victim impact statement was read by the prosecutor on her behalf.

She wrote: "Lucas has caused me a large array of ongoing emotional, physical, psychological and financial issues.

"My life has been changed for the worse, primarily because of what he has done. He made me feel I wasn't acting in the correct way. I just got used to that being the norm for me.

"I have been put down, accused [of cheating], made to feel like I was horrible and nasty. I loved Lucas and I feel this was used against me as he thought I just would not leave him.

"He has destroyed my trust and faith in relationships and now I just fear being around men in a romantic way because I fear being hurt again.

"I have lost friends and relationships with family members and missed out on important events because he was jealous or he had hurt me.

"I feel he has taken everything from me. Lucas tore it all apart. I don't want him to hurt me or anyone else ever again."

The court heard Hook’s previous convictions, dating back to 2010, include assault by beating, harassment of another ex-girlfriend and threatening to destroy property.

Ian Foinette, defending, said that while on remand awaiting sentence the defendant had used the time "wisely and extensively" by completing courses to address his addictions and becoming a mentor to fellow inmates.

But when he spoke of Hook's "partial diagnosis" for autism and potentially ADHD, Judge Simon Taylor KC said neither conditions "reduced his culpability".

Jailing Hook for a total of three years and three months on January 11, the judge told him he had "bullied and abused" the vulnerable victim.

"She trusted you with the quality of her life and you betrayed that," said the judge.

"It's plain to me that your behaviour didn't just have a physical impact immediately felt at the time of your inflictions of violence. It went beyond that.

"You have a history of domestic abuse and in this case you prosecuted a campaign of domestic abuse against someone you made feel all the more vulnerable each time you offended against her."

Hook was also handed a seven-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his victim, going to her home, and posting about her on social media.