A husband who helped run a B&B has claimed he was repeatedly kicked and punched by his abusive wife.

Simon Weston has alleged he was also threatened by Clare Weston while they were running Shepherd House, a former vicarage in Faversham.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard how she also pushed a mug of tea into his face after he boiled the water using the 'wrong' kettle, and kicked in a door panel in anger at him leaving the fridge door open.

Mr Weston - giving evidence by video link - has also claimed his wife had threatened to burn his clothes, break his neck and set their dog on him if he failed to carry out his "chores".

The chartered surveyor, became so worried about what his 41-year-old wife could be capable of that he started to secretly record her rants and photographed his injuries, which included cuts and bruising to his nose, a gouge to a cheek, and eye scratches.

Weston has denied engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between September 2017 and February 2019.

It is alleged she caused her husband to fear on at least two occasions that violence would be used against him.

The prosecution has claimed that Mrs Weston treated him 'like a slave and worse than a dog for minor misdemeanours' until he was worn down and reached breaking point.

The couple were going through divorce proceedings at the time and he said he just focused on selling their home and business in the hope of 'moving on'.

"My way of dealing with everything through that period was that I didn't really discuss it with anyone.

"I didn't discuss it with my close family because I didn't want them to worry about me. It was only as these incidents kept occurring that I reached out to other people and told them what was going on.

"My reasoning was to deal with it myself and not burden anyone else. The effect of having to deal with what was going on affected me massively.

"I think at the time I didn't comprehend how bad it was because I got on with life and tried to look at the light at the end of the tunnel, " he claimed.

"I think at the time I didn't comprehend how bad it was because I got on with life and tried to look at the light at the end of the tunnel" - Simon Weston

He added: "It was only when they reached such a crescendo of physical and verbal abuse around Christmas last year and January that someone pointed out to me they were really worried about me and concerned for my welfare.

"It was that realisation of what was going on that made me decide I wanted to get out of the house and away from Clare because I was really worried about what may happen to me.

"I didn't know what Clare was capable of doing."

The couple had married five years ago and then began renovating Shepherd House in Preston Street before opening it as a B&B in September 2016.

Divorce proceedings were started by him in the summer of 2018 but they continued to live under the same roof and run the jointly-owned business.

The court heard the alleged incidents of abuse intensified in early 2019 as Mr Weston single-handedly carried out further renovations to the property so it called be put up for sale.

He said his wife 'made his life difficult' however by not allowing him access to the kitchen to prepare food or make himself a cup of tea.

Mr Weston was also sleeping by himself in a room at the top of the house and 'trying to keep out of her way as best as possible', he told the court.

He described laying on his bed when Weston came in and took his full cup of tea away.

Mr Weston claimed he was then attacked when he took it back from her.

"She came at me, tried to kick me in the testicles and was kicking out and punching me.

"She managed to connect with my face a couple of times and all I could do was defend myself as best as possible."

The trial continues.

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