Benjamin Knowles, of Canterbury Road, Herne Bay, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison at Canterbury Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of three offences including non-fatal strangulation and actual bodily harm, following a five-day trial.
Kent Police received an emergency call at 6.15pm on 10 January 2026 — a woman, crying and screaming for help, before the line went dead. Officers forced entry to a Canterbury flat minutes later and found the victim, who required medical attention for her injuries. At the same time, according to Kent Police, Knowles was climbing from a rear bedroom window in an attempt to evade arrest, and was arrested shortly afterwards in a nearby alleyway.
The victim later disclosed to police that, according to court records, Knowles had repeatedly punched, slapped and kicked her over the course of several days. He had also strangled her multiple times — on one occasion until she lost consciousness. He was charged the following day with three offences, including non-fatal strangulation and actual bodily harm, and denied all counts.
A jury found him guilty after a five-day trial. Canterbury Crown Court sentenced him to 3 years and 4 months on 20 August 2026. A restraining order was also imposed to protect the victim.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Chris Harvey said: “Knowles is a violent offender who subjected his victim to persistent harassment and abuse, repeatedly breaching court orders and bail conditions to do so. I am pleased that the judge has handed down this sentence today, which reflects the seriousness of his offences. We will always push for the harshest possible outcome at court, and we are committed to ensuring people like Knowles are held accountable for their actions.”