A dad-of-three who beat his girlfriend with a hair grip and threatened to kill her three times blamed stroke medication for his violent behaviour.

Building project manager Neil Barker claimed the seizures and ongoing treatment changed his personality and turned him into a bully.

The result was a campaign of domestic violence against his partner as their 18-month relationship neared its end.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley told how on separate occasions 53-year-old Barker assaulted his girlfriend by strangling her, using a hair grip and finally threatening her with a knife.

The attacks were accompanied by death threats on each occasions, he told Canterbury Crown Court.

Barker, of Laura Way, Hoo, was this week jailed for two years after admitting seven offences of making death threats and assaults by beating.

Judge Adele Williams told him: “This was an appalling catalogue of domestic violence which has meant your victim has lived a life of misery. This is totally unacceptable behaviour.”

The prosecutor said: “The couple had been in an 18-month relationship but in November last year it had deteriorated so much that she was living in fear of him every day.”

He said during a confrontation Barker put his hands around his partner’s neck and started strangling her, saying he was going to kill her.

She was left with red marks around her neck and unable to speak properly for weeks.

Weeks later Barker began an argument and later attacked his partner with the hair grip, again leaving marks on her neck.

The prosecutor said the final assault happened when he grabbed a knife and again made a death threat.

After being arrested by police, Barker told them: “It was my medication, it affects my behaviour.”

Paul Hogben, defending, said Barker had been married for 30 years but separated two years ago.

He then suffered a stroke and was off work and then had a series of strokes followed by a “full seizure”.

“Before this he had no history of domestic violence and he believes he has undergone a personality change as a result,” he added.

Barker was ordered to stay away from his partner and both Underdown Road and Woodland Road for five years.