A mother of three who answered her door while putting her children to bed was beaten over the head with a metal bar in a “troubling and bizarre” mystery attack.

Police could find no motive for the brutal assault in Wrentham Avenue in July.

But a jury convicted 26-year-old Joseph Mezen – described as looking like boxer Anthony Joshua - of wounding with intent.

Today, Mezen, of Town Court Close, Herne Bay, was jailed for 10 years for the savage attack.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor told Canterbury Crown Court: “During the course of the attack the victim sustained multiple blows to her head, causing significant cuts and bruises.

“Her attacker used a metal pole to inflict the injuries before making his way from the scene. The victim has no knowledge as to the reason she was attacked."

He added that despite her appalling injuries, the victim managed to give a detailed description of her attacker to the police.

Officers believed the description matched the appearance of the defendant who was known to live nearby and he was arrested and then picked out at an identity parade.

She had been putting her children to bed when she heard a knock on the door between 8 and 8.30pm.

Mr Taylor said: “When she answered she saw a tall broad-shouldered male standing at the door. She said he resembled the boxer Anthony Joshua.

"Mezen asked: 'Are you Number 97?' and when the victim confirmed the address he claimed he had a delivery for her.

“At this stage she put her head outside the door and Mezen struck her several times over the head with a metal pole.

"She screamed for help and, in all likelihood, it was this screaming that caused the male to desist and make his way from the scene."

She was taken to hospital that evening with deep lacerations to her head and extensive swelling and bruising to her face.

The attack was caught on CCTV cameras which revealed a man matching Mezen’s description running away.

The court heard that Mezen, a father of one, had spent a lot of his youth in care in Liverpool. He claimed he had been training to be a paramedic at the time of the attack.

Judge Heather Norton told him: “This was a very serious and brutal attack on a woman who was putting her children to bed and we may never know the reasons why it happened.

“But one thing is certain is that significant planning was involved in this troubling and bizarre case.

“Some might think it was a miracle that the victim’s injuries weren’t more serious but she bravely remained on her feet and began screaming until neighbours came to her aid.”

The judge also issued a lifetime ban on Mezen contacting his victim or going to where she lives.

One theory police considered was that it had been a case of mistaken identity.