On Air Now

Andrew Snaith

6:00pm - 10:00pm

  • 01723 336444

Now Playing

Lenny Kravitz

It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Download

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.

Read more from Sky News:
Travelodge boss quits

UK cinemas could ban AI glasses

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."

Sky News

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

Want to See More from This is the Coast?

Click here to set This is the Coast as a preferred source on Google search.

Love living on the Yorkshire Coast? So do we.

This is the Coast is 100% locally owned and operated. We don’t rely on public funding or government grants—we rely on our community.

Producing trusted, fact-checked local news takes time and resources. If you value having a dedicated team of professional journalists fighting for our region, please consider supporting us.

Help keep the Yorkshire Coast informed for the price of a coffee a month.

Support Local Journalism Today

More from Top Stories

Follow Us

Get Our Apps

Our Apps are now available for iOS, Android and Smart Speakers.

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play
  • Just ask Amazon Alexa
  • Available on Roku

Today's Weather

  • Scarborough

    Light rain

    High: 17°C | Low: 11°C

  • Filey

    Light rain

    High: 17°C | Low: 12°C

  • Whitby

    Light rain

    High: 15°C | Low: 11°C

  • Bridlington

    Light rain

    High: 16°C | Low: 11°C

  • Hornsea

    Light rain

    High: 17°C | Low: 10°C

  • Driffield

    Light rain

    High: 17°C | Low: 10°C

News