A mother feared she would die as she was beaten and strangled by her son in her home.

The woman, who is said to have mobility issues, initially hid under a table and later "went limp" in a desperate attempt to stop David Henry's attack in Ramsgate in the early hours of March 13.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the 35-year-old began shouting and screaming at his mum during a row about his ex-partner.

Outlining details of the incident, some of which were disputed by the defence, prosecutor Ben WIld said: "On the Crown's case, he hit [his mother] in the mouth with a closed fist, causing bleeding to the mouth.

"She then got under a table in an attempt to get away and he flipped the table over.

"On the Crown's case, while she was on the floor he began strangling his mother and striking her multiple times to the face and body.

"She thought she was going to die and went limp a couple of times to stop the assault.

“It effectively ended when he told her to get out of her own home and caused her to flee to her daughter's house in the early hours."

Mr Wild said police found Henry passed out in the kitchen and, once awake, he apologised for what he had done.

Henry, of Clements Road, Ramsgate, later pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and an offence of damaging property in respect of a sideboard he threw during the violence.

The court was told on a previous occasion that he has a borderline personality disorder and a "traumatic relationship" history.

It was also said at his sentencing hearing on Friday that he suffers from the rare condition Irlen Syndrome.

This is a problem with the brain's ability to process visual information and one which the judge, Recorder Michael Turner, remarked would "muck up schooling" as, without the correct shade lens in glasses, it would not be possible to read.

Shiraz Rustom, defending, said Henry's account - given in court documents but not read out - was "as he remembered" and he accepted his mum was injured "in the melee".

But Mr Rustom added: "He does love his mum and it is difficult for him to accept, especially when you have underlying psychiatric issues, that he has done that."

On sentencing, Recorder Turner said he was "just" persuaded to suspend an immediate jail term but told Henry he should be "thoroughly ashamed" of his behaviour.

"You cannot go around assaulting your mother. It just doesn't happen. I shudder to think what she must have been going through when that happened," said the judge.

"You should be, and I am sure you are, thoroughly ashamed of yourself whatever the reason or your circumstances at the time."

Imposing 15 months' imprisonment suspended for two years, Recorder Turner said he had taken into account the current situation of overcrowded prisons, as well as the fact Henry "plainly needs probation supervision".

He was therefore told he must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirements, 100 hours' unpaid work and a six-month alcohol treatment programme.