A brute who attacked his partner of 21 years at her Lanarkshire home warned he'd "do worse than Fred West did".
Thomas Murphy knocked the female victim to the floor, put his hands around her neck and stood on her head.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard he became violent after turning up drunk at her East Kilbride home, making reference to the infamous serial killer.
Murphy, a prisoner, admitted assaulting the woman and acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards her in Quebec Drive on May 25 last year.
Chloe O'Hara, prosecuting, said: "The accused appeared to be heavily intoxicated and neighbours heard the couple arguing.
"He was shouting and swearing at her, saying 'F****** bitch' and 'I'll do worse than what Fred West did'."
The court heard the woman told Murphy, 50, she wanted to end their relationship which angered him further.
Ms O'Hara continued: "He punched her on the side of the face, causing her to fall, then placed both hands around her neck.
"Murphy also put his foot on the back of her head and applied pressure before going into the kitchen."
The victim contacted a friend via Facetime and asked her to come to the flat.
"The friend saw an injury to her face and heard her screaming," Ms O'Hara added.
"The accused heard their conversation and ran into the living room, hitting his partner across the head. This too was seen by her friend on the video call and she contacted the police."
Officers arrived and found Murphy's victim in a distressed state with swelling around her eye.
Murphy had gone by this time, but he was found a short time later - asleep in a tent near the block of flats.
Charged with assault, he asked officers 'Did she not tell you her eczema was pretty bad?'
Defence agent John McLaughlin described the couple's relationship as "tempestuous".
He added: "On this occasion my client was extremely drunk. He behaved in a grossly disproportionate, unacceptable and cowardly way.
"He has some domestic offences on his record, but his time in custody awaiting this case has brought home to him that domestic violence is unacceptable in modern society."
Sheriff Linda Nicolson told Murphy his behaviour had been "appalling" and jailed him for 22 months.
The sentence was backdated to May 27 last year as he had been in custody since then, meaning he was likely to be released immediately.
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