'He stamped on her head' - Thug jailed after 'vicious' attack on girlfriend in South Tyneside
Attacker also given a ten-year restraining order after the attack on his girlfriend in South Tyneside.
A thug who launched a "vicious" attack on his girlfriend after drinking Stella lager all day has been put behind bars.
Sean Smith and the victim were watching a film at her home in South Tyneside in March when an argument started and he punched her in the face, which caused her nose to bleed.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the violence that followed, which included her being pushed down some stairs and her head being stamped on, left the woman with an eye injury as well as bruising across her face and body.
In an impact statement, which she bravely read in court herself, the victim said she has been left "broken".
She said she believed Smith, who she was with for around nine months, had loved her but told him: "You could have killed me."
Prosecutor Ellen Wright told the court the couple had been at the home of the victim, who was drinking lager and vodka, while Smith had been drinking Stella Artois "all day", when an argument started.
Miss Wright said Smith punched the victim in the face, which caused her nose to bleed.
As the row continued he became "extremely angry" and headbutted the woman in the face, which caused her severe pain.
She was then pushed onto the floor of the bedroom and either fell onto or had the vacuum thrown at her head.
Miss Wright added: "She ran from the bedroom and began running downstairs in an attempt to get out of the house.
"As she reached about half way down the stairs she felt the defendant kick her in the middle of her back and this caused her to be pushed down the rest of the stairs."
The court heard the victim landed on her back and hit her head at the bottom of the stairs but managed to stand up and open the front door but Smith then punched her "full force" in the ribs.
Miss Wright said: "She ran to the back door, opened it and started screaming for help. The defendant grabbed her and dragged her back into the kitchen.
"She fell onto the floor and curled up into a ball to try and protect herself.
"The attack still didn't end there. The defendant then proceeded to kick her all over her body and then he stamped on her head and neck.
"She describes everything went blank and believes he may have blacked out."
The woman eventually managed to run out of the house, find help and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Smith, 38, of Montrose Crescent, Gateshead, who has a criminal record including convictions for violence, admitted assault.
Judge Carolyn Scott jailed him for 35 months and issued a ten year restraining order.
The judge said: "This was by any account a vicious and sustained attack which resulted in her sustaining unpleasant injuries, including to her eye.
"She was very fortunate it wasn't worse than it actually turned out to be."
Peter Sabiston, defending, said Smith has made significant progress while in prison on remand and has completed courses.