A 52-year-old man, who who put his younger lover through 23 years of domestic abuse including threatening to kill her, has been ordered to stay clear of Thanet for 10 years!

The ban on David Reid was made by a judge after she heard about the abuse suffered by victim Leigh Howe.

Now Reid, of Adrian Square, Westgate has been jailed for three years after being convicted of assault and making threats to kill.

Prosecutor Ed Fowler told Canterbury Crown Court said the separate charges had taken place “in the context of domestic violence”.

He said that in July last year Reid couldn’t find his mobile phone and Ms Howe, 42, agreed to use her mobile to help locate it in the house.

But Reid became impatient, grabbed Ms Howe’s phone and used it to hit her in the face, he said.

She was left with a black eye and bruising to her face, the jury was told.

In November 22 last year he telephoned the barmaid while she was working in a public house.

Mr Fowler said Reid said he would come to the pub and drag her out by the hair “and bury her”.

Judge Adele Williams told him: “I am sure that she suffered domestic violence at your hands for many years.

“Over 23 years of your relationship you mistreated her by using violence and verbally and emotionally abusing her" - Judge Adele Williams

“You are 10 years older than her and she was only 19 years old when you first got together. You then sought to control her.

“Over 23 years of your relationship you mistreated her by using violence and verbally and emotionally abusing her.

“Her Victim Impact Statement makes very sad reading. And when you rang her and threatened to bury her, given the context of your relationship, I have no doubt she was very frightened that you would carry out the threat.

“I am satisfied she was in genuine fear for her life. These are serious offences.”

She ordered him to stay away from Ms Leigh and Thanet for the next 10 years.