A bully with a history of domestic violence struck his latest girlfriend so hard in a frenzied attack that he broke his hand, a court heard.

Luke Chawla erupted in anger and lashed out at Amelia Scott after she asked him to leave her home in Iwade, near Sittingbourne.

He knocked her down and continued to punch and kick her, leaving her bleeding with deep facial gashes and in need of hospital treatment.

A judge found the 25-year-old father was a dangerous offender and sentenced him to five years and four months under an extended sentence.

Chawla, formerly of The Avenue, Gravesend, will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before the parole board will consider his release. He will be on licence for a further three years.

A judge told him: “You have a serious problem of violence to women. It leaves this court with the issue of dealing with someone who is dangerous.”

Chawla had previously battered another girlfriend, put a pillow over her face and pulled a cord tight around her neck.

In the latest case, he had been in an on-off relationship with Miss Scott and it was rekindled when he left prison in August last year.

Prosecutor Eleanor Scott-Davis said on November 8 last year, Miss Scott told Chawla the relationship was over. He did not accept it and left with her door key.

"You have a serious problem of violence to women" - Judge Martin Huseyin

Ten days later she asked him to collect his property, but when he went to her home in Green Oak Crescent, Iwade, she believed he was under the influence of drink or drugs.

He stumbled around and she told him to leave, but he went into the spare room and pretended to be dead on the floor, Miss Scott-Davis told Maidstone Crown Court.

As Miss Scott tried to flee, Chawla laughed and told her: “I like killing people.” He left but then returned, letting himself in with a key.

“He began punching her with both hands,” said Miss Scott-Davis. “She was hit 10 to 15 times around the head and body. She fell on the floor and he continued to kick and punch her.

“She managed to get to a window but he dragged her away by her hair. He left at this point.”

A neighbour came to Miss Scott’s aid. She had blood on her legs and face and told him: “I think I am going to pass out.”

Afterwards, Chawla sent the victim messages telling her he loved her and that he could not live without her.

When arrested the next day, police officers saw he had a hand injury, caused during the assault.

Chawla, now of no fixed address, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and damaging property at the police station.

In January 2016, he was jailed for 20 months after admitting assaulting another girlfriend.

He was at the girl’s flat in Sheerness when they argued and he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her down by her wrists. He slapped her and put a pillow over her face.

She pushed him off and he then used a vacuum cord to throttle her. He told her he was going to kill her and held a knife to her throat. He returned later and trashed her flat.

He discovered when he appeared for sentence that she was pregnant with his child.

"He has an entrenched pattern of violence against women, including punching a pregnant woman in the stomach" - Judge Martin Huseyin

In 2013, he was sentenced to 30 months youth custody for breaching a restraining order not to contact a woman and burgling her home. He told her he was capable of murder.

Despite the previous convictions, Daniel Stephenson, defending, said the attack on Miss Scott was the father-of-two’s first serious violent offence, others being charged as battery.

“You may take the view it is not necessary to impose an extended sentence,” he told Judge Martin Huseyin. “He now recognises that what he did was completely wrong. He is intent on taking courses that will assist in controlling his temper.”

But the judge said: “He has an entrenched pattern of violence against women, including punching a pregnant woman in the stomach.

“It may be slightly fortunate that the level of harm that resulted in previous offences is lower than it might have been.”

Passing sentence, Judge Huseyin said reports concluded that the level of risk was high. “It is an assessment with which I agree,” he said. “In this case there was a sustained assault.

“It was inevitable more serious harm was caused in this case. You committed a sustained, serious attack on Miss Scott, causing deep gashes in her face and to go in and out of consciousness.”

The judge added that the parole board would consider whether or not to release Chawla at the two thirds stage. An indefinite restraining order was made.

Investigating officer PC Nicholas Rivett-Carnac said: "The victim in this case suffered serious facial injuries and a bleed on the brain in what was a completely unprovoked attack. I am very pleased that she has since made a full recovery and is now moving on with her life.

"Tackling domestic violence is a priority for Kent Police and I hope the sentence imposed on Luke Chawla sends a strong message that such offenders will be put before the courts and imprisoned for their crimes.

"His victim displayed tremendous courage in reporting the offences committed against her, and her actions will have given great confidence to others who find themselves victims of domestic violence."