A terrified mum was "held hostage" in her own home by a former partner who knocked her unconscious with a kettle and attacked her with a metal broom.
To the victim's horror, ex-boyfriend Tony Ash suddenly appeared in her flat while she was getting ready for bed and launched a shocking and sustained attack which left her fearing she was about to die.
Using punches, kicks and weapons, he left her drifting in and out of consciousness and with multiple injuries during a savage onslaught.
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A court heard the violence continued throughout the night until the following morning when she eventually managed to break free from her home in Byker, Newcastle.
They had been together for around nine months but split not long before the attack last October.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "There's a background of domestic abuse to which he subjected her throughout the relationship and there were a number of incidents where officers attended but she didn't give a statement because she was too scared of him.
"She was assaulted by him physically and he controlled her movements, such as by locking her in the home. On the few occasions she was let out, he would demand she came back."
On October 2 last year, the victim was home alone and getting ready for bed when she suddenly saw him standing in the doorway to her daughter's bedroom, having let himself in despite knowing he was not welcome.
He was angry and made false claims that she had stolen money from him, the court heard.
Mr Ahmad said: "He subjected her to a brutal and lengthy assault.
"He pushed her over then started to punch her in the face using both fists, causing pain and dizziness.
"He picked up a kettle and hit her on top of her head with the kettle with full force. She was in excruciating pain and believes she was knocked unconscious.
"Not long after, she stirred awake and he struck her to the head and body with a metal broom.
"She was in and out of consciousness and fell to the floor. He stamped on her head and punched her to the face."
Ash then wielded a sharp object, which he denies was a knife, as the victim fought, and she was slashed to her finger as she tried to protect herself.
The victim lost a sense of exactly how much time had passed but noticed it had got light outside.
She eventually managed to escape around 8.30am as Ash threatened to set fire to her flat.
She went to a neighbour's home, was extremely distressed and kept repeating "I thought I was going to die" and that she had been "held hostage all night".
The victim had extensive bruising, multiple lacerations to her head from the kettle, a bloodshot eye, bruising and scratches to her back and arms, a sore back a cut finger and cuts and bruises to her face and ears. Some time later, she was still suffering headaches.
She said in a victim impact statement: "He has made my life a living hell during the time I've been with him.
"When I tried to leave he has been violent and threatened to stop it happening.
"I've suffered so many injuries and I'm sick of it and want to use this opportunity to get away from him and stop him ruining my life."
Ash, 30, of Rothbury Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, who has 91 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and a separate charge of failing to provide a sample and was jailed for 26 weeks and given a ten-year restraining order.
Mark Harrison, defending, said he maintains he didn't use a knife or kick her on the ground.
He added: "His best mitigation is his early plea.
"He bitterly regrets his behaviour."
Ash, who complained about wanting to withdraw his guilty plea, and said it was "b*******", stormed out of the video-link room at prison before the judge was finished sentencing him.
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