Floyd McNally-Jones, of no fixed address, was given a three-year, four-month sentence at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 24 March 2022.

The 27-year-old had previously admitted two assaults, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, controlling and coercive behaviour and a malicious communications offence.

McNally-Jones was arrested by Kent Police in April 2021 after he twice assaulted a woman known to him at hotels in Dover.

On the first occasion, on 12 April, he punched her in the face following an argument. In the second incident, on 28 April, he threw a drinks can at the woman, hitting her in the head.

Before his arrest, McNally-Jones sent threatening messages to the victim and a woman who helped her, threatening to kill them.

An investigation by East Kent’s Vulnerability Investigation Team discovered that in the build-up to the assaults, McNally-Jones had cut the woman off from her family and friends.

He also controlled her lifestyle, including telling her what she could do and when she could do it, and would repeatedly make disparaging and abusive comments about her.

It was also established that, in April 2018, McNally-Jones had assaulted the same woman by kicking her, punching her and hitting her head with a glass.

As part of his sentencing, five-year restraining orders were imposed on McNally-Jones, prohibiting him from contacting the victim or the woman who helped her.

PC Ella Russell, of East Kent’s Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: ‘The first priority of our team is protecting victims like the woman who suffered appalling abuse at the hands of McNally-Jones.

‘Her bravery in disclosing his behaviour following these terrible assaults has led to him rightly being imprisoned and restraining orders imposed to protect her and another woman.

‘I urge anyone suffering coercive and controlling behaviour or domestic abuse to report it now by calling 999 or 101, going to our website, or visiting your local police station.

‘Our officers will make sure that you’re dealt with respectfully and spoken to away from the person responsible for the abuse. We’ll stay in contact with you and see you through the whole investigation and any resulting court proceedings.’

For more details on domestic abuse and how to report it, visit: https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/how-to-report-domestic-abuse/