During a drunken late-night row, Kieran Walmsley hit Janet Edwards in the face before brutally stamping on her stomach.

He then put her to bed and left her to die from massive internal injuries.

Walmsley, 33, pleaded guilty to the murder of Miss Edwards, 35, his partner of more than a decade, at their home in Albion Row, Byker, Newcastle, last year.

Prosecutor Peter Gair told Newcastle Crown Court yesterday that Miss Edwards had suffered regular domestic violence at the hands of Walmsley during their relationship.

"They would shout at each other most nights and to be fair to the defendant, the female would 'give as good as she got'."

Mr Gair said Miss Edwards would often be seen by neighbours and friends with bruises to her arms or her face, but would make excuses and say they were inflicted accidentally.

The prosecutor said Walmsley carried out the fatal attack on his girlfriend on the night of August 16 last year.

A neighbour returning home to his flat after a night out described hearing shouting at about 11pm, and by 11.35pm it had gone quiet.

Miss Edwards's body was found in bed the following afternoon by a family friend, who alerted the emergency services. When police arrived, Walmsley was arrested.

He told them they were lying on the sofa and he had suffered a fit. He said that when he came round he was lying on top of Miss Edwards.

She then said she had wet herself so he helped her to the bathroom, where she fell over and banged her head. He then put her to bed.

However, a post-mortem examination revealed 68 separate injuries to Miss Edwards, including a fractured nose, fractured rib and a ruptured liver.

She had died from internal abdominal bleeding caused by being stamped, jumped on or kicked by Walmsley.

The court heard the couple, originally from Preston, Lancashire, both suffered from learning difficulties and drank heavily.

They had been together for 11 years and moved to Newcastle in 2000.

In a moving victim statement, Miss Edwards's mother Patricia Barton told how the sight of her daughter lying in a mortuary will remain with her forever.

"I am unable to forget the number of injuries she sustained and how alone and frightened she must have felt," she said.

Paul Sloan QC, defending, said the defendant was truly remorseful for what he had done, and would have to live with it for the rest of his life.

"She was by far the most important person in the defendant's life, and he will always have to live with the knowledge that he alone was responsible for the death of a person he loved above anyone."

Judge David Hodson, The Recorder of Newcastle, said no sentence he imposed could ever compensate Miss Edwards's family for her loss.

"One only needs to read the statement of Janet Edwards's mother to be acutely conscious of the grievous loss she and her family have to bear," the judge said.

Judge Hodson imposed a life sentence, and said Walmsley must serve 13 years before he could be considered for parole.

In a statement released by Northumbria Police, Mrs Barton paid tribute to the caring daughter who she said would be missed by all who knew her.

"Janet was a loving child who had a happy childhood and enjoyed holidays with her family," she said.

"She was a shy, thoughtful girl who cared for all those around her, particularly children and the elderly. She will be missed by all who knew her."