A mum suffered such horrendous injuries after her partner smashed her head against a fish tank she was left "looking like a monster from a horror film".
Lisa O'Malley, 33, was subjected to the brutal attack by 32-year-old Jonathon Youthed after he returned home covered in blood and "bragging" about assaulting another man.
Ms O'Malley asked her partner to leave but he refused, and smashed her head on a coffee table and fish tank.
The thug also punched her more than 20 times in the property in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Neighbours called 999 after hearing mum-of-one Ms O'Malley's screams during the "sustained attack".
Peterborough Crown Court heard the terrified victim feared she was going to die after the beating on March 25, 2018. It only stopped after Ms O'Malley's teenage son rushed downstairs and kicked Youthed in the head.
Somehow, Ms O'Malley broke no bones but, in addition to the severe bruising, she was mentally scared for years.
Youthed was since jailed for 10 years at the same court after he was found guilty of wounding with intent. He denied this charge, along with a count of attempted murder.
Speaking since the sentencing, Ms O'Malley said: "After the attack I was unrecognisable.
"When my neighbour saw me, they said I looked like a monster from a horror film.
"Jonathan had a bit of a temper, but I never thought he was violent - not until that night.
"I can remember every punch, that night is seared into my memory.
"At one point, when he was squeezing the air out of me, my vision went blurry.
"I remember thinking: 'This is it, I'm going to die.'"Thankfully my son came downstairs in that moment and kicked him - getting him off me. I don't know I'd be alive without him.
"He was my childhood sweetheart, but no one that loves you should be able to do that to you."
The mother has been rebuilding her life since the attack. Although she dated Youthend "on and off" since secondary school, Ms O'Malley never thought he was capable of such violence.
She continued: "He had a bit of a temper from time to time but I was never scared or thought he'd be capable of really hurting me.
"Not until that night.
"Throughout the entire time I'd known Jonathan, I'd never seen a violent side to him."
The mum added: "I looked unrecognisable after the attack.
"Incredibly, I didn't have broken bones, just some horrendous bruising.
"I had to cut my hair as well because he'd ripped out clumps of it that night.
"Three months after the attack and I had only managed to leave the house twice, it left me shaken and terrified.
"I'm so thankful my son was there that night - he saved my life.
"I can't believe my childhood sweetheart was capable of hurting me like that. I guess I never really knew him."
