A BOYFRIEND who threw a can of Strongbow cider at his partner’s face with such force that it changed shape causing her “excruciating pain” was jailed.

Stephen Wilson, from Pontypool, also used a full wine bottle to attack his victim after she tried to leave his home, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

A victim impact statement from his girlfriend was read to Judge Jeremy Jenkins in which she revealed, “I was in fear of my life”.

Prosecutor David Pugh said Wilson and the woman had been to a party at Skippy’s Bar in Griffithstown near the defendant’s house.

Mr Pugh told how the couple were in a “volatile” on/off relationship for about four years and the defendant had used violence against her before.

She had decided to stay the night at Wilson’s place after the get-together but they had “bickered” that night.

His girlfriend tried to leave the defendant’s address in the early hours while he was asleep but he awoke and carried out the “sustained attack”.

Mr Pugh said: “He threw a full can of cider which hit her full force in the face. It struck her with such an impact that it changed shape and bulged.

“She was in excruciating pain. He then picked up a full wine bottle and hit her with it in the face.

“She fell to the floor, hitting her head on the tiles. She sat there dazed. The defendant then punched her to the ribs.”

Mr Pugh said the woman also had blood coming out of her mouth and needed treatment at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital.

She suffered a burst blood vessel under her right eye as well as bruising and swelling.

Wilson was arrested and told interviewing detectives that he had drank 10 pints at the party in the pub before carrying on downing cans of Strongbow cider when they got home.

The complainant in her victim impact statement said: “I was in fear of my life. I did love him. I feel like I have been turned into a monster.

“I feel like I was weak and let this happen to me.”

The 40-year-old Wilson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the offence being committed in Cambria Street on March 2.

Mr Pugh said the defendant had no previous convictions for violence but did have a caution for headbutting another girlfriend after coming home drunk, causing her nose to bleed.

Matthew Roberts said in mitigation that the self-employed contractor “accepts that his behaviour on that night was disgraceful”.

He added: “He is fearful of going to prison and he is bitterly sorry for what occurred.”

Judge Jenkins told Wilson, who is a father, the only justifiable sentence open to him was one of immediate custody.

He said: “She said she loved you once and still wishes you well.”

Wilson was jailed for 12 months and must pay a victim surcharge.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order preventing the defendant from contacting the complainant.