Jail for 'unfaithful' drunk man who attacked girlfriend

John Fumagalli's short-lived relationship with the victim had been "rocked by his infidelity," explained Mr John Evans, prosecuting told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Violence flared just weeks after the 32-year-old defendant moved in with her at Christmas, it was said.

He claimed to have been to watch Aston Villa on February 9 but when he did not return on time his girlfriend rang to find out where he was.

He did not tell her, said he would be back in two minutes but did not appear for almost half an hour, continued Mr Evans.

When Fumagalli finally got back to her flat he was drunk and went straight to the bedroom with a take away meal.

She discovered he had been logging into adult networking sites and tried to get him to sit up on the bed.

Mr Evans added: "As she tried to pull him up he punched her on the right cheekbone, leant over and grabbed her hair before punching her several times more. She was screaming."

The victim, who was cut and bruised during the ordeal, said in a statement: "I thought he was going to kill me.

"This thought was running through my head as he rained down blows on.

"I have had to lie to people about what happened.

"I work with children aged seven and eight and had to wear a mask."

Mr Paul Dhami, defending, said: "He has no recollection of what took place in that bedroom.

"It was so out of character and as a result has reduced his alcohol intake.

"He bitterly regrets what he did. It took everybody who knows him by surprise."

Fumagalli from Morris Road, Oldbury, admitted assault and was sent to prison by Judge Peter Barrie who told him: "This was an outburst of serious violence."