A 51-year-old man stamped on the head of his former partner after their three-year romance began to break up, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Kyle Chambers knocked on Amy Stevens' door while her seven-year-old son was in bed and launched a vicious attack.

Her screams as she was punched in the face were heard by a neighbour who tried to help but was also thumped, said prosecutor Malcolm Parkes.

Chambers carried limp Miss Stevens over his arm, dumped her onto the ground and stamped on her continuously.

Miss Stevens was taken unconscious to hospital and sustained injuries to her eyes, cheek, jaw, temple, an ear and neck. She needed three stitches in her lip.

Chambers, of Ashton Close, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Stevens and causing her actual bodily harm. He also admitted common assault on her neighbour.

Sentencing him to 21 months jail, Judge Michael Mott said the offences by a big man on a woman were 'truly apalling'.

The victim had been violated in her own home with the risk that her son could have woken up.

Miss Stevens was trying to end their relationship but was frightened of Chambers because of his temper, said Mr Parkes.

On July 26 the problems came to a head around midnight. She answered the door and as her mobile phone rang the defendant began punching her.

Chambers told police he just flipped and may have 'slapped' her a few times.

Defence counsel Samantha Forsyth said he had little recollection of what happened and could not explain his behaviour.

Chambers later confessed: "It is one of the worst things I've ever done." Miss Forsyth said he was an upstanding member of the community and helped a number of organisations in Redditch in his spare time.