by Paul Hooper

A jealous lover poured a kettle of boiling water over his girlfriend... because she had been talking with her friends, a court heard.

Mark Homes, 43, didn't like Joanne Conlon's relationship with her pals at a brass band concert in Margate.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Ms Conlon returned to her flat in a Margate hotel alone and fell asleep - only to wake up and find Homes boiling the kettle.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told the court: "Ms Conlon said the following events appeared to happen in slow motion.

"She saw Homes standing there looking at her. He had picked up the kettle with his right hand and she instinctively rolled her body to the righthand side.

"Then says she felt excruciating pain as he poured contents over the left side of her body and face."

The prosecutor said Ms Conlon then ran into the bathroom to douse herself with cold water - and had to fight Homes to try to escape from the flat.

Police - who had been alerted - forced their way in and rescued her.

She was taken to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital before being transferred to the burns unit at East Grinstead where she was treated by an army surgeon.

Ms Todd said she had suffered 13 per cent burns to her arms, face and upper body.

Homes, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was given a nine-year sentence - consisting of six years in prison and three extra years on licence.

Judge Adele Williams told him he posed a danger - especially to any future partners.