A Greenhithe man who strangled a woman until she pretended to die, in an unprovoked attack, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Andrew Holden, of The Crescent, attacked his victim the day before Valentine's Day - after he awoke in a bad mood and started an argument.

The 51-year-old knocked the woman to the ground and began strangling her, whilst reportedly making further threats of violence.

She suffered severe haemorrhaging to her head and face in the February 13 assault, and Holden only released his grip when the woman pretended to be dead.

Seizing her opportunity the victim, who was bleeding heavily from the assault, fled the property and began frantically knocking on her neighbour's door for help.

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She found a safe place to stay, and Kent Police were called. Officers forced entry into Holden's home and arrested him.

Holden was charged with attempted murder, but the court accepted a lesser plea of attempted grevious bodily harm with intent.

He was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (May 4).

Investigating officer Detective Constable Roger Harris said: "The victim in this case suffered bruising to her neck and severe haemorrhaging to her head and face caused by the pressure exerted by Holden, and which took a significant amount of time for her to recover from.

"The consequences of this incident could have been far more serious.

"Understandably the victim was extremely traumatised by what happened and there is no excuse for the ordeal Andrew Holden put her through."