A man has become one of the first in the county to be charged with a new offence of non-fatal strangulation.

James Preston, from Tonbridge, was arrested last Wednesday after allegations of multiple assaults against a woman.

Police charged Preston with intentionally strangling the woman following the creation of the new offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The act came into force on June 7 and since then Kent Police has also had the charge authorised for a further two unrelated cases.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, if convicted.

Preston, 33, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.

As well as the strangulation charge, he faced allegations of further offences, including three counts of assault. He was remanded in custody, pending a future court hearing.