A Gillingham man who headbutted his former partner, poured beer on her and subjected her to repeated abuse has been jailed.

Lewis Sutton, 29, of The Vineries, Gillingham, was jailed for two years and four months on June 3 after admitting one count of controlling and coercive behaviour, two counts of actual bodily harm and three charges of criminal damage.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how on October 6, 2018 Sutton repeatedly slapped and punched the victim, causing her to suffer numerous facial injuries.

On another occasion he demanded the woman delete her social media accounts and broke her mobile phone when she refused to do so, before damaging a second mobile phone during another incident.

In a further attack on March 30, 2019, Sutton and the woman were at a pub in Gillingham when he demanded to look at her mobile phone. The pair began to argue and Sutton threw his beer over her.

When the woman attempted to walk away, Sutton ran after her and threw the beer glass at her. He then chased the victim and pushed her to the ground before pulling her up by her hair and attempting to strangle her.

Another person known to Sutton intervened and the victim was able to get away, with Sutton shouting threats at her at she left the scene.

Investigating officer PC John Carless, from Kent Police, said: "Sutton not only subjected his victim to several frightening assaults but since 2019 he has denied assaulting her, telling her friends and family that she had made it up and inflicted the injuries herself.

"I want to commend her for her bravery in how she has handled the court case, ensuring that Sutton received a sentence he deserved and stopping him from inflicting injuries on anyone else.

"We take reports of domestic violence seriously and will always help victims to break away from offenders and support them in rebuilding their lives."

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