A 37-year-old man who smashed his partner's head on the floor in a Worcester car park and "left her for dead" has been jailed for six years.

Alan Cornes was told by a judge he was dangerous enough to be given an extended licence period of three years and will not be allowed out of jail until he has served at least two-thirds of his six-year term.

Cornes had a history of violence against his women partners and lost his temper as he walked with Therese Bullock, his partner of three months, to a garage after they had spent the evening with friends, Worcester Crown Court heard.

A driver had just parked in King Street car park in Sidbury on the evening of October 15 last year when he saw them having an argument, Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting, told the court.

Cornes, of Severn Street, Worcester, put his hand over Miss Bullock's mouth then grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her to the floor.

He then got hold of her head with both hands and slammed it three times on the tarmac floor, Mr Wilkins said. The driver shouted and Cornes told him not to get involved before walking off.

Miss Bullock was left unconscious with blood coming from the back of her head and the emergency services were called.

The 42-year-old suffered injuries including a fracture to her spine and a brain injury which is still being assessed. Four months after the attack, she was still wearing a neck brace and she described her injuries as disabling and life-changing.

The court heard Cornes had seven convictions for 15 previous offences including two for domestic violence against former partners.

Satvir Aujla, defending, said Cornes accepted he was completely to blame and he was full of remorse. The father-of-two realised he had a problem with drinking and anger management.

"He knows he has to use his time in custody to address these issues," she told the court.

Cornes pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Michael Cullum said he was a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk to any future partners. He put a restraining order in place indefinitely so that Miss Bullock would know he could not contact her again because "the last time he saw her, he left her for dead," the judge said.

"You walked away leaving her unconscious and for all your knowledge, dead, after losing your temper," he told Cornes. "It's not the first time you have seriously injured your partner. Different partners have had the misfortune to be assaulted by you."

He said he had no evidence to show if Miss Bullock's injuries were permanent but she had lost consciousness and had bleeding on the brain that could have killed her without intervention.

"You grabbed your helpless victim with both hands and bashed her head on the tarmac with extreme force so she lost consciousness. It was a sustained assault and she had no idea what was happening to her," the judge told Cornes.

He said he considered Cornes dangerous enough to warrant an extended sentence. He was jailed for six years and will not be eligible for parole until two-thirds of the way through instead of half. The extended licence period of three years adds up to a total sentence of nine years.