A besotted Chatham woman is standing by her "bully" boyfriend who twice beat her up and tried to strangle her, a court heard.

Powerfully-built Charles Wilson left Hannah Goode distressed and injured after slamming her head into floor tiles in her bathroom and kicking her. Four days later, he battered her again.

But the victim, who suffers from bipolar disorder, wrote to a judge on the 30-year-old thug's behalf and was in court to support him when he was sentenced.

Jailing Wilson for 18 months, Judge Philip Statman told him: "I am satisfied you are a controlling and intimidating individual. In my book, you are a bully.

"You have a history of violence against women. You were subjected to violence in your upbringing. This is a classic case of mirrored conduct."

Wilson, of Silsby, Loughborough, Leicester, admitted two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm. He had been remanded in custody.

"He was placed in care at the age of 13. He suffered serious physical abuse. Since then he has had issues with physical confrontations..." - Edmund Fowler

Maidstone Crown Court heard Wilson, who has convictions for assaulting previous girlfriends, moved into Miss Goode's Chatham flat after they started a relationship.

On September 24 last year, her mother could hear her screaming during a phone call. Her parents went to the flat and found her shaking and unable to stand up.

She declared she had been beaten up. Wilson had struck her head on the tiles and thrown her to the floor and kicked her in the back.

He also put his foot on her head to stop her getting up. She blacked out and was sick. She was taken to hospital but no fractures were found.

There was a reconciliation, but on September 28 the victim's mother received another distressed call in the early hours.

Miss Goode had flagged down a police car in Globe Lane, Chatham, after Wilson attacked her. As well as being beaten and strangled, he dragged her by her hair with her feet off the ground.

Officers went to the flat and found Wilson sitting on a bed with two knives by his side.

Miss Goode refused to support the prosecution. She indicated in the letter that with the right help she and Wilson had a future together.

Judge Statman recommended Wilson be put on a domestic violence programme when released.

Edmund Fowler, defending, said the reasons for Wilson's behaviour were manyfold, although he did not seek to excuse it.

"His background is complicated," he said. "It goes back to his childhood when he was the product of violent family circumstances. He was placed in care at the age of 13.

"He suffered serious physical abuse. Since then he has had issues with physical confrontations.

"He says that what he did was utterly disgraceful. The kick is denied. He wants to deal with what he has done. He wants assistance with relations."

Wilson was working as a self-employed courier's mate and was also a carer for his father.

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