A jealous bully who climbed through his lover’s window at night and attacked her has been jailed for almost three years.

Tudor Popescu had intimidated and threatened the victim throughout their relationship, a court heard.

They met while working at a bakery in Allington in November 2016. Popescu pursued her despite knowing she was married.

The 32-year-old Romanian, of Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, told the woman her husband “would not be a problem”.

But he later accused her of seeing other men. He turned up outside her home, sent threatening messages and punched and slapped her.

On one occasion he drained her car of petrol, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Martin Yale said on another occasion Popescu dragged the woman from her workplace, took her to a nearby river and threatened to push her in.

Then in the early hours of April 15 this year he climbed through the open bedroom window of her flat as she slept.

He turned the light on and punched her in the face.

“She described it as a strong punch to her left eye,” said Mr Yale. “She asked him why he had done it and again he accused her of seeing other people.”

Popescu dragged the woman from her bed, fracturing her ankle as he did so. She managed to flee to her son’s bedroom, lock the door and call for help.

He admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, putting her in fear of violence by harassment and assault by beating.

Jailing him for two years and 10 months, Judge Adele Williams said the attack was sustained and aggravated by Popescu climbing into her home at night with her children asleep.

“You became increasingly jealous of her, accusing her of seeing other men, and these crimes were committed because of your obsessive jealousy" - Judge Adele Williams

“You became increasingly jealous of her, accusing her of seeing other men, and these crimes were committed because of your obsessive jealousy,” she told him.

David Howell, defending, said Popescu’s deep infatuation with the woman went out of control “in an awkward and horrendous way”.

The judge imposed a restraining order banning contact with the victim for three years.