A FATHER-of-two who subjected his partner to a "sadistic and prolonged assault" in which he punched and kicked her and held her head underwater has been jailed.

Security guard Alec Banner, of no fixed abode, was handed the sentence at Newport Crown Court on Friday after admitting the attack on Tanya Shepherd.

The court heard the couple had been in an "on and off" relationship for the previous 12 months and were at Ms Banner's home in Church Street, Ebbw Vale, on Thursday, January 18, when he accused her of sleeping with another man.

He threw her onto the sofa and punched her in the head, before hitting her head against a wall.

Pushing her to the floor, he continued to punch and kick her and jumped on her legs, before grabbing her by the throat, dragging her to a sink and holding her head underwater.

She managed to get free and ran out of the flat, but Banner, 42, chased her. She clung onto a bannister but he poured a drink over her, hit her head against the bannister and ripped her top off, before she got free and ran out of the building.

The attack lasted more than two hours.

Among her injuries were a fracture to her jaw, which required a titanium plate to be fitted. She also suffered bruising and swelling to her face and was unable to open one of her eyes.

Banner was arrested two days later at the Church Street flat and, when interviewed by police, denied any knowledge of the attack.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, read a statement by Ms Shepherd, in which she said she said she had feared Banner was going to kill her.

She said: "I used to be a very carefree person but since this incident I am very nervous and on pins.

"I'm scared to go outside in case he is waiting for me."

She added: "I don't think I will ever be the same person again."

Mr Howells added Ms Shepherd is now moving house as she does not feel comfortable in the flat where the attack took place.

Jeffrey Jones, defending said at the time of the attack Banner, who has two children aged 22 and 14, was suffering from anxiety following the death of his younger brother, health problems and losing his accommodation.

"There are no issues in his previous relationships and there's no issues to suggest he has been anything but a good father," he said.

He added: "This is a defendant who has instructed me to say he would apologise if he was allowed to."

Jailing Banner for six years and nine months, judge Daniel Williams called the attack "sadistic and prolonged" and "utterly horrifying". "The harm that you have caused, as I am sure you recognise, is greater because of the sustained nature of the assault," he said.

"It went on for hours.

Calling Ms Shepherd "a vulnerable woman", he added: "I've seen photos of her, she is very small - you are not."

Speaking after the sentencing, Gwent Police detective constable Steve Davies said: “This was a violent case which had a significant impact on the victim. She should be commended for showing great strength and determination throughout the court process. Domestic abuse will be taken seriously by both the police and court system, and this is reflected in the sentence imposed.”