A controlling partner who pushed his girlfriend's head into a pan of hot cooking oil in a string of violence offences has been jailed for more than two years.

Freddie McPherson, of Rye Road, Hawkhurst was responsible for a prolonged and sustained period of abuse between August 2018 and May 2019, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

This included choking his victim until she was unconscious, beating her with a metal chair and stamping on her.

The 21-year-old regularly prevented his partner from leaving the house in order to seek help and would demand to view her phone in fits of jealous rage.

He would also taunt the victim with daily insults about her physical appearance, even telling her to kill herself on several occasions.

The abuse was initially reported to police in May 2019 and McPherson was promptly arrested.

In court he pleaded guilty to a charge of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of common assault.

He was this week sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment and was made the subject of a 10-year restraining order.

PC Ian Loft of the West Kent Vulnerable Investigation Team said: "McPherson continuously abused, isolated and tormented his victim during the vast majority of their relationship.

"He has subjected her to the most appalling violence as well as relentless mental anguish, much of which was intended to humiliate and degrade her and which sometimes took place in front of a young child.

"McPherson is an immature and selfish young man who has demonstrated no sense of shame for his actions.

"I would like to thank and commend the victim who has shown great courage to come forward and also reassure anyone who may be in abusive relationship that we have a dedicated team which works relentlessly to tackle and deter these type of offences.

"He has subjected her to the most appalling violence as well as relentless mental anguish, much of which was intended to humiliate and degrade her and which sometimes took place in front of a young child..." PC Ian Loft

"There is also a range of domestic abuse support services available through our partner agencies, to help keep victims safe.

"They may be feeling frightened, isolated and ashamed but they are not to blame for what is happening.

"No one should suffer in silence and we encourage them to report offences."

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