A sadistic thug who repeatedly assaulted his girlfriend, throwing darts and other objects at her, has been jailed for just over four years.

Powerfully built Shannan Campey also humiliated his distraught victim by cutting her hair and pouring a can of paint over her.

After listening to a “harrowing” victim statement, a judge said before she met the 30-year-old painter and decorator she was strong and well educated with an expectation of a future life of contentment and fulfilment.

“It is an expectation you have plainly shattered,” he added.

Campey, of Speldhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted unlawful wounding, two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault and false imprisonment.

He had told another judge at an earlier hearing: “The best thing that happened to me is sending me to prison. I am remorseful and sorry.”

Prosecutor Neil King said the domestic abuse happened between June and December last year.

During an argument in a London street in June, he threw an ornamental box at her head, leaving a scar on her eyebrow.

"She believed you were intent on murdering her, as you threatened to do. Your behaviour involved a gross abuse of power" - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

“In September, there was an argument which rose to a physical level,” Mr King told Maidstone Crown Court. “He threw a china bowl at her head and a full tin of paint over her head.

“He punched her, bit her finger and cut off her hair. The finger injury went septic and so was far more serious than at first blush.”

During more violence in December Campey used a glass coffee table to cause the victim more injuries. The next day he threw darts at her arm and body.

“The defendant plainly intended to cause harm and injury and pain,” said Mr King.

He also stamped on her head and strangled her and threatened to cut her with broken glass.

He would not let her leave their home and took her with him when he wanted to buy cigarettes.

But while he was paying for fuel with her credit card, she managed to sneak from the car and seek help from a stranger.

While at the police station she was so traumatised she curled up on the floor in a foetal position.

The victim, who achieved a first class honours university degree, wept in court as her victim impact statement was read out.

She told in it how Campey made her feel “worthless and useless” and said she was “living a nightmare I can’t wake up from”.

Mr King said Campey had nine previous convictions for 13 offences, including assaulting a previous girlfriend in 2013 and damaging her car.

Sentencing him to four years and five months, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said: “The span of the dates suggests this was an abusive relationship in which you were inclined to impose your own will on your victim as and when you chose, being able to do so from a relative position of strength.

“Such were your assaults on her, she believed you were intent on murdering her, as you threatened to do. Your behaviour involved a gross abuse of power.”

He added: “A prison sentence of some length is demanded. Nothing less will do.”

The judge granted a restraining order banning Campey from any contact with the victim.