“My ex-boyfriend strangled me and smashed a bottle over my head, and now I want to help other women.”

Those are the harrowing words of Hannah Hinton, 35, who was subject to relentless abuse by her former partner Jack Austin.

The pair entered a romantic relationship in 2022 after meeting on dating app Bumble.

But what started as an amazing “honeymoon period” soon ended after six months.

The mum-of-two said the abuse from 30-year-old Austin began on a trip to Barcelona which she booked for his birthday.

“The first time he hit me was when we were on holiday together after I told him I found out he was messaging his ex-girlfriend”, Hannah said.

“Jack lashed out, and he hit me then punched me in the face”, she added.

The relationship quickly turned toxic with Austin “threatening suicide” when Hannah tried to leave.

On one occasion, both her children “witnessed an attack” and things “got out of hand”.

Hannah Hinton after she was assaulted by Jack AustinHannah Hinton after she was assaulted by Jack Austin (Image: Hannah Hinton) Austin was arrested and then released on bail, which resulted in him bombarding Hannah with text messages.

She said: “Jack completely harassed me.

“While on bail he attacked me again which was really serious. He was outside my house, and I didn’t want him to make a scene, so I let him in.

“We were not together at the time, and he saw I had been messaging someone, so he had me in a chokehold and was strangling me to try and use face ID for my phone.

“I couldn’t breathe. He then split my head open with a bottle.”

READ MORE: Woman strangled by ex is 'serving a life sentence' as abuser freed from jail

Austin, of Brunel Road, Southampton was arrested and remanded into custody following the incident.

Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two charges of common assault, and a charge of intentional strangulation.

He appeared before Southampton Crown Court on February 28 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and was handed a five-year restraining order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Hannah said: “Jack is a repeat offender, and he will do this again, so if I can get his name out there and that saves one person, that makes me sleep better at night.

“If someone reads my story and they are in the same position of being scared to leave, I want them to know there is help out there.

“If that happens, what I went through wasn’t for nothing. If I can save one woman from domestic violence, that will be enough.”

  • If you are seeking support for domestic abuse, call the Stop Domestic Abuse advice line on 03300 165 112