A pregnant woman lost her unborn baby just two days after she was brutally attacked by her boyfriend at their Herne Bay home.

Natalie Armer suffered the miscarriage while recovering from a beating by thug John Kendall, who punched and kicked her as she cowered on the ground.

A court heard he also beat her in front of their two young children, who looked on in horror, and told her he would "bury her body in a place no one would ever find".

Days later, Natalie was then taken to hospital and lost her unborn child.

But despite the beating – just one in a catalogue of attacks – prosecution lawyers were unable to say that it had directly led to the miscarriage.

And instead of facing a far more serious charge – 31-year-old groundworker Kendall admitted a charge of assault causing his partner actual bodily harm and was jailed for 22 months.

Judge Adele Williams told the bully: "You attacked your partner – even though she was pregnant and expecting your third child.

"The fact that she miscarried that baby a few days later, of course, cannot be directly attributed to the assault.

"But the fact that you were prepared to kick your pregnant partner whilst she was on the ground is a matter of the gravest concern to this court."

Canterbury Crown Court heard Natalie had suffered several attacks during their stormy relationship, including the groundworker threatening to kill her "and bury her body in a place no one would ever find".

She said even though the relationship was now over, she revealed her "mental torture" at the hands of the controlling thug.

In June, he had an argument with his partner of eight years and the mother of his two young children.

Prosecutor Crispian Cartwright told how Kendall, of Winsor Gardens, pushed her over and repeatedly kicked her in the ribs – even though she was three months' pregnant.

He said Natalie was so scared of him that she "curled herself up in a foetal position on the floor" as the kicking began.

"The fact that you were prepared to kick your pregnant partner whilst she was on the ground is a matter of the gravest concern to this court..." - Judge Adele Williams

Then a few weeks later on June 30, he launched another attack that left his victim covered in bruises.

The police became involved when he ordered her out of the car and she was forced to hide in bushes until her sister came to her aid and informed officers.

Judge Williams said the attacks "were all carried out in the context of previous domestic violence and during a relationship that had deteriorated".

Kendall boasted that "he used to slap her about and kick her from time to time and could be nasty with his tongue".

But he would later claim he did not mean the death threats and Natalie would have known that.

The judge told Kendall: "The first attack was carried out in front of your children – what example is that for them?

"This was domestic violence of the highest order, but it is quite clear to me that you still are trying to minimise what you did.

"You have shown no proper remorse and show no insight into your offending."

Kendall was jailed for 18 months for the assault causing actual bodily harm and another four months for the second assault by beating. He admitted both offences.

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