A terrified three-year-old curled up into a ball and sobbed his heart out as a soldier smashed his way into a Herne Bay home and attacked his mother.

Russell Dunn, 30, was furious that his girlfriend, mother-of-two Kelly Wells, had ended their "Facebook" romance.

The scorned squaddie – a liaison officer for bereaved army families – took his revenge by forcing his way into her home in Pochard Crescent in Herne Bay and punching and kicking her.

Now, Dunn has been jailed for five years and four months after admitting charges of burglary while attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm and theft of a mobile phone.

Judge James O'Mahony told him: "This was for Ms Wells a nightmare that was all too real against the background of your harassment of her."

Prosecutor Donna East told Canterbury Crown Court that Dunn, of Royal Native Way, Seasalter could not accept the break up of their short relationship – which had began on the social media site Facebook.

"Neighbours had noticed that the children were crying uncontrollably and fortunately the police then arrived promptly. The impact on your victim has been devastating..." - Judge James O'Mahony

Ms Wells began fearing that Dunn "was out of control" and posing a danger to her security when he began sending her abusive text messages in October last year."

The judge told him: "Her fears were completely correct because she heard the wheels of your car making a noise outside her home, consistent with your aggression."

Dunn then threatened to stab his victim and "**** her up" before he forced his way inside.

Ms East said that the brave mum then stood at the bottom of her stairs to protect her sleeping children, aged five and three – but Dunn just smashed his fist into her face twice.

The soldier then kicked his helpless victim in the jaw and hit her in the stomach – as she tried to telephone for help.

The attack alerted neighbours who rushed to her aid, including deputy head teacher Vicky Weatherhog who comforted one of the distressed children.

The judge said: "Neighbours had noticed, not unsurprisingly, that the children were crying uncontrollably and fortunately the police then arrived promptly.

"The impact on your victim has been devastating – although I accept you have since shown some remorse."

Kathryn Hirst, defending, said Dunn had been discharged from the army in April this year on medical grounds because of a painful hip injury received in training.

"This was a total mismatch of two people who had two different expectations from the relationship."

She said that one of Dunn's jobs in the army had been looking after families whose loved ones had died in Afghanistan.

After sentencing, investigating officer Sergeant Kenneth Veck said: "I would like to acknowledge the victim's neighbours and her family as being instrumental in the investigation and supporting her on the night.

"Her bravery must be highlighted, in her actions during the assault to protect her children upstairs while relaying information to the call taker, as well as her support of a police prosecution while recovering from the ferocious attack."

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