A 'Jekyll and Hyde' drunk who launched a terrifying attack on his partner has been forgiven by her.
Marvic Mhlanga, 44, was described as a 'devil' by the woman when he drinks, but said he was a 'decent guy' when sober.
Fuelled by Special Brew, painter and decorator Mhlanga stamped on her chest and kicked her face while she was on the floor and choked her by standing on her neck.
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He then attacked her with a knife to the head, leaving her with a permanent scar.
She said she 'hated' Mhlanga for the attack, but 'in time has decided to forgive him', Manchester Crown Court heard.
The woman said she 'doesn't want to live her life in hatred', and 'hopes he has learnt his lesson' while in prison.
"She says when you are sober you are a thoroughly decent individual," the judge, Recorder Michael Maher told Mhlanga, describing him as having a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character.
"Rather markedly, however, in drink she described you as a devil."
The drunken row, at the woman's home in Beswick, started after an argument about the amount of alcohol Mhlanga had drunk.
The woman admitted she had 'struck out' at him, but the judge said Mhlanga's reaction was 'completely disproportionate'.
During the attack in February, he stamped on her chest, kicked her in the face and stood on the side of her windpipe.
Mhlanga 'threw her around the room' and then attacked her with a knife to the head.
She was able to escape and seek help from a relative who lived nearby, and the police were called.
The woman needed stitches and suffered cuts and bruises, but was not more seriously hurt.
"This incident was terrifying, I genuinely feared for my life," she said in a statement.
"She says she hated him for it, but in time has decided to forgive him," prosecutor David Farley said.
She did not seek a restraining order from the courts.
"Clearly alcohol has been an issue for the defendant for a long period of time," defence barrister Tom McKail said.
"He has reacted poorly and committed this appalling assault on the complainant."
Mr McKail said Mhlanga is 'truly sorry' for the attack.
"It is hardly surprising she thought she might die," the judge said.
"I hope Mr Mhlanga, now in the sober light of day, you really understand you could have been before the court for a much more serious offence."
Mhlanga, of Mere Avenue, Salford, was jailed for 18 months after admitting section 20 wounding.
