A woman attacked in public by her former partner believes she has to 'watch her back everywhere', a court heard.
Aaron Hughes, 37, punched the woman to the face during an incident in Rochdale.
She fell to the ground and others came to help aid.
The woman suffered a cut to her eyebrow and swelling to her cheekbone.
"I feel he is after me and I have to watch my back everywhere I am going," she said in a statement.
Her ordeal in June has left her feeling depressed and she has had issues with her mental health, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Hughes, from Whitworth, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He had spent nine weeks on remand in prison, but is due to be released after being handed a suspended jail sentence.
A judge was told that Hughes is genuinely sorry and wants to make changes.
His barrister Ellen Shaw said that keeping Hughes in jail longer would not allow him to gain access to courses and further help.
"He wants to engage and reduce the risk that has been identified and go back to his settled address," Ms Shaw said.
"The defendant is willing to comply with any of the conditions the probation service have set out."
She said Hughes doesn't want to involved in the relationship anymore.
Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale told Hughes: "You have pleaded guilty to this assault on your former girlfriend.
"This was a very unpleasant attack on her in public, when she was punched to the face and fell to the ground, and others had to intervene to help her.
"I accept that you are genuinely sorry for what happened, and that you want to change.
"The best way to change is to have active assistance to do that."
Hughes, of Meadow Cottage, Whitworth, Rochdale, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a building better relationships course and a 15 month alcohol treatment course.
A restraining order was also passed, to last indefinitely.
