Stefan Noyce attacked Zoe Murfitt with a dog chain similar to this one

by Paul Hooper

An amateur model from Folkestone pretended to be pregnant in a desperate bid to stop a bitter ex-lover from strangling her with a dog chain.

Terrified Zoe Murfitt, 23, feared she was going to die as she was being strangled by her former boyfriend, sailor Stefan Noyce.

Donna East, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how the eight-month relationship turned sour in December last year.

In May this year, 27-year-old Noyce arrived to collect his dog and suggested going for a walk with the pet.

Mrs East said that Ms Murfitt then received a text from a female friend in Dymchurch.

But her jealous ex-lover demanded to know its content before picking up a branch, which Ms Murfitt thought he was going to throw for the dog to collect.

Instead, the deep sea fisherman used it to hit her over the head and then broke it in half, striking her a second blow.

The prosecutor said: "She then felt his hand around her throat squeezing so hard she couldn't breathe. He repeated that three or four times and she began kicking and scratching to get him off.

"He held his hand there for two minutes and the next thing she recalls was that the dog's chain was wrapped around her neck."

Mrs East added: "He then pulled it so tight that she thought she was going to die.

"At this point she told him she was pregnant and he stopped strangling her.

"She wasn't pregnant, she just did this because she hoped it would stop him
– and it worked."

Ms Murfitt - who has posed topless for pictures on the internet, with only her arms covering her breasts - was later treated for neck, throat and back injuries.

She is listed on the Pure Storm modelling website, giving her areas of interest as fashion, swimming, lingerie and hair.

Noyce was arrested at his home in Dorset and admitted the attack, which he said happened after "he snapped" when she refused his offer of reconciliation.

Oliver Saxby, defending, said: "This was a sustained attack and a really nasty incident but it wasn't premeditated.

"she wasn't pregnant, she just did this because she hoped it would stop him – and it worked…” – donna east, prosecuting

"After his arrested, he was remanded in custody which has been the longest time he has spent on dry land since he was a boy. He has hated every minute of it and after serving his sentence he wants to return and go back to work on the boats.

"But he is essentially a good and caring man, despite his drink problems. He is also capable of producing acts of real bravery, once rescuing a young woman from drowning in a river."

Judge Heather Norton jailed him for 16 months after he admitted the assault.

She told him: "I accept this was a spur of the moment thing and that you regret it. I have read references from friends who say you are a calm, kind and supportive individual.

"But I think there are two sides of your character and in a relationship you cannot control your emotions and anger. This was a nasty, sustained and very frightening assault on a lone woman."

Noyce was also banned from contacting Ms Murfitt in the future.