A man who beat his girlfriend to death in her own home was jailed for seven years at the Old Bailey today (May 22).

Hussain Abu, 37, of Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, yesterday pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 26-year-old Sannah Javed at her flat in Green Lane, Ilford, on December 2 last year.

Sannah and Abu, who was described by police as "violent and controlling", had been in a turbulent relationship for a number of years with a number of domestic altercations.

At the time of Sannah’s death, the two were living apart.

Around 11.15pm on December 2, police officers were called to the flat by London Ambulance Service (LAS) following reports of a collapsed female.

Found at the scene, Abu initially told officers at the scene that Sannah had collapsed while sitting on her bed, but would later offer two alternative versions of the evening's events.

Sannah was taken to King George Hospital in Goodmayes where she died at 12.32am on December 3.

Following a post mortem three days later, Sannah was found to have sustained a number of internal and external injuries which were found to be in keeping with an assault.

Abu was arrested on December 6 and charged the following day.