A thug who savagely beat his partner in public before continuing the violent attack behind closed doors has been jailed.

Police were called in November last year by concerned neighbours, who heard a man shouting and a woman crying hysterically.

They arrived at the home of Darren McManus in La Belle Alliance Square, Ramsgate, to find him wearing jogging bottoms covered in his partner’s blood.

An investigation revealed he had punched and kicked his victim while out in public, and then continued the assault at his flat.

She suffered cuts and heavy bruising, and said she feared McManus would have killed her if the police had not arrived.

She confirmed it was not the first time McManus had attacked her, and that he had been controlling and abusive throughout their relationship.

He was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of assault at Canterbury Crown Court.

He was also sentenced for having a hammer and a knife in public in separate incidents.

The judge ordered that a further two counts of assault remain on his file.

McManus was also given a five-year restraining order not to contact the victim.

Investigating officer DC Katrina Whitehead said: “If people find themselves in a similar situation to the victim in this case, we would urge them to report it so we can help.

“There is support and information available and nobody should feel they are alone or stuck in an abusive relationship.”

Anyone suffering physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse or are being intimidated or threatened by a current or previous partner or adult family member is a victim of domestic abuse.

Remember, you are not to blame and help is available.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999.

To report a domestic abuse related crime, call police on 101.

You can also call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (24/7 and free).

Support and advice is also available from Kent Domestic Abuse Services and the National Centre for Domestic Violence

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