Thug pictured sticking his tongue out jailed for brutal strangle attack

A man who kicked and strangled a woman twice before she escaped and fled to a petrol station has been jailed for nearly three years.

Charlie Stefano grabbed the woman twice by the throat - including once as her dragged her across the floor and held her over a staircase.

The 35-year-old also kicked her and snapped her phone in half during the attack in Chatham, Kent, in the early hours of 13 February.

Police said the woman managed to escape the home and ran to a petrol station when Stefano was distracted.

Worried members of the public raised the alarm and called police, and the defendant was arrested later the same day.

When he was arrested, he was pictured in a custody image taken by Kent Police sticking his tongue out to the camera.

Stefano, of Dagenham, east London, knew his victim and pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and actual bodily harm.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court this week sentenced him to two years and 10 months in prison and imposed a six-year restraining order.

Two other charges of criminal damage and coercive and controlling behaviour were left to lie on file.

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Detective Sergeant Leighton Prior, of Kent Police, said: "A woman has been left traumatised by Stefano's actions and I hope the prison sentence and restraining order can bring her some closure.

"I would like to commend her courage in supporting his prosecution and ensuring a man who is a clear danger to women is now behind bars."

(c) Sky News 2026: Thug pictured sticking his tongue out jailed for brutal strangle attack