A former businessman who strangled his partner after secretly filming her has been jailed for 12 years.

Alan Brough, 66, secretly filmed his ex and hired a private eye to follow her before throttling her breathless.

Now, he is being treated for Othello Syndrome, otherwise known as morbid jealousy, in a secure hospital.

In February, Brough was cleared of trying to murder his ex-partner at his Walmer home after becoming convinced she was cheating.

Instead he was convicted unanimously on the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the obsessive continually berated his victim for what most people would consider innocuous behaviour.

For instance finding his partner’s half drunk bottle of wine could trigger ruminating thoughts, the court heard.

As the relationship unfolded, Brough’s abnormal behaviour would intensify, until he devastated her life.

Brough even installed a spy camera in the bedroom of their home and paid a private eye to follow her.

In May 2017, Brough made an emergency call from his Halliday Drive home to police at 10.20pm, telling the operator he thought he had killed his partner.

“He went on to say that he thought she had been having an affair and that he had flipped and got her round the neck.

“At the time he was making the call, the woman was struggling to breathe and Brough could be heard begging her to breathe and to stay alive.

“He can be heard saying: ‘Come on .come on breathe,’" Eloise Marshall QC told an earlier hearing.

He was remanded in custody for psychiatrists to report on his mental state and the threat he may pose to women in a relationship with him.

Psychiatrist Shahid Majid recently told the court Brough was diagnosed with delusional disorder that had manifested as "morbid jealousy"

Essentially it is the wrong belief women cheat on him without having proof alongside abnormal behaviours.

Dr Majid told Judge James O'Mahoney elements of Brough's condition had since improved, however, he still holds "the same conviction of delusions."

But the doctor argued placing Brough in a hospital for up to a year, rather than directly in prison, could help determine whether the delusions were treatable.

Prosecutor Eloise Marshall QC urged the court to consider the-father-of-three’s potential to harm others in the future.

She argued his mental condition alone did not explain the violence and highlighted the need for punishment.

Mitigating, David Osborne said Brough, of previous good character, had never before been violent and was well-respected.

However, more than two years on his victim told the court the attack has left her confidence shattered.

"I still feel very insecure and emotional. I find it hard to go out and am starting to feel isolated and depressed.

"The confidence I felt before has gone," she told the court previously.

Judge O'Mahoney sentenced Brough on Friday to 12 years custody with three years extended license.

First he will be subjected to a hospital order so doctors can attempt to address his mental condition.

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