A father who squeezed his ex-partner's throat until she couldn't breathe, in front of a child, has been jailed.

Liam Theobald set upon his victim on a residential street leaving her "extremely nervous" and too scared to visit the town where the attack happened.

Judge Mark Weekes told the 26-year-old: "You pushed your fingers in her face.

"She walked away to try and get away, but you followed her.

"You grabbed her by the throat, you squeezed her throat to the point where she could not breathe, you pushed her on the grass bank.

"That violence was witnessed by other members of the public".

The onlookers included a child. Canterbury Crown Court heard Theobald, of no fixed address, displayed controlling and coercive behaviour during the two and a half year relationship.

The attack, which happened in Squires Way on the afternoon of January 10, “robbed the victim of her dignity,” the court heard.

Prosecuting barrister Caroline Knight said: “(The victim) speaks of the events as leaving her feeling extremely nervous about leaving her home.

“She finds herself only going out if it is absolutely necessary and avoids Dover altogether.”

Reading the victim impact statement Mrs Knight added: “Due to his behaviour, I can’t bear to be in close proximity to Liam."

Recorder Mark Weekes said: “It is all too common a feature of domestic violence, it robs (victims) of their dignity.”

Defence barrister Mike Ansby explained Theobald, a father-of-two, hoped to work at the London Fancy Box packaging plant in Poulton Close, Dover, and find permanent accommodation.

He added his client, who suffers from bipolar disorder, “regrets his outburst.”

Mr Ansby continued: “He is a young man who wants to change his ways.”

The court heard Theobald last year was convicted of possessing a bladed article in public and placed on an 18 month suspended sentence.

Mr Weekes activated the suspended sentence after branding the recent attack “shocking violence.”

On sentencing, Theobald, dressed in a grey cardigan, remained emotionless in the dock.

Theobald was jailed for 10 months for battery and breaching a previous bail condition, where he failed to surrender to magistrates.

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