The effects of a violent assault will live with one of the victims "for life", a judge has said.

Mark Lewis, 37, from Tonbridge, found himself in court after a drunken attack which was described as one of the worst a judge had seen.

District Judge Paul Goldspring condemned the Newcastle-born attacker after he punched, pinned down and strangled a woman.

Two other victims, who cannot be named because of their age, were assaulted after trying to pull Lewis off her.

Judge Goldspring said: "I can't think of anything more coercive, bullying and abusive. It's worse than that because you did it in front of children.

"Not only did you do the assault in the presence of children. When they were in a state of hysterics and tried to stop you, you decided, while you were drunk, to assault both of them.

"I will tell you they will never forget that night. That will live with them almost without doubt forever.

'He tried to play innocent up until the point he realised he had nowhere else to turn' - District Judge Paul Goldspring

"You might get a short prison sentence but it will not be so short for them.

"I can't think of a common assault that's worse than this in this set of circumstances."

Lewis, of Hythe Street, Tonbridge, admitted three counts of common assault and another charge of using violence to gain entry.

Lewis changed his plea during a trial on Thursday last week.

Judge Goldspring said: "He tried to play innocent up until the point he realised he had nowhere else to turn. I will still give him credit for that guilty plea."

Lewis was handed four months in prison for each assault charge and two months for the using violence to secure entry.

Each sentence will run concurrently, meaning Lewis' will spend four months behind bars.

He must also comply with a restraining order for the next five years.

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