Lovelorn Michael Howe has paid a humiliating price for ill-treating his ex-partner and mother of their two children.

The 35-year-old ground worker suspected Kelly Turner was having an affair and attacked her, breaking her arm, during a row.

While he was languishing in a prison cell on remand, Ms Turner married his work foreman and used a planned family holiday in Turkey as a honeymoon.

Howe, of Arthur Road, Cliftonville, has been jailed for two and a half years for the vicious attack which broke her arm.

Judge Adele Williams ruled that for the next three years the jilted lover must stay away from any home where his ex is living.

Prosecutor Kieran Brand said the couple had been in a nine-year relationship and had two children.

"I don’t feel safe in my own home and am trying to move away to start afresh. I have now moved on emotionally from Michael and am looking forward to the future. Once I am out of this house I feel I can leave him behind..." - Kelly Turner

He told Canterbury Crown Court that it had been a turbulent affair with the police being called to deal with incidents on eight occasions. Last year Howe was given a suspended sentence for assaulting the mother-of-four.

In March Ms Turner and one of her children had been staying in a hotel near the family home “to escape the arguments”.

He said she returned home to find Howe lying face down on top of the bed and asked if he was ready to talk.

Ms Turner and her 11-year-old son fled the house in fear. Howe chased the two into the street and struck her on the arm with a child’s scooter.

She began screaming for help and a neighbour went to her aid.

Ms Turner told police later: “The assault on me has badly affected my middle son. He is very angry and is unable to let his feelings out.

"I don’t feel safe in my own home and am trying to move away to start afresh. I have now moved on emotionally from Michael and am looking forward to the future. Once I am out of this house I feel I can leave him behind.”

Howe, who has 42 previous offences, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. A more serious charge of causing the injury intentionally, which he denied, was left on the file.

Phil Rowley, defending, said: “There clearly had been tensions between the two in the run-up to the incident. One of the causes of the tensions stems from his assertions that he believed she was engaged in a relationship with another.

“Following his arrest when he was remanded in custody on March 31, he was advised that Ms Turner had married his former foreman at work and their honeymoon was now, in fact, a booking Howe had made for himself, Ms Turner and their children.

“That became a booking for Ms Turner and her new husband. But he accepts that whatever his beliefs were at the time there is no justification for the violence that followed.”

The judge added: “She is perfectly entitled to move on and get on with the rest of her life.”

DI Kath Way said victims of domestic abuse should not suffer in silence.

She said: "They may be feeling frightened, isolated and ashamed but they are not to blame for what is happening.

"If they need help and support, they can call us at any time. Our experienced officers and staff can provide advice and guidance and help at a time and a place convenient for them."

More advice is available from the Kent Policewebsite.