A violent abuser assaulted his partner while soaking her with freezing water from a shower head. She thought she was "going to die" during the assault and was left with an injury to her head which was described like a "tennis or golf ball." Samuel Scaddan, 46, repeatedly punched his victim multiple times after pushing her into the bath at his home in Abergavenny. The couple had been celebrating Valentine's Day but the defendant's demeanour changed after he had drunk half a bottle of tequila. A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Thursday heard Scaddan and the victim had been in a relationship for four years. On the morning of February 14 the couple went to Wetherspoons where the defendant drank two pints of lager and half a bottle of tequila. F or the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. They returned to Scaddan's flat but he became "self deprecating" and said "no one loved him". He began to smash up items in the flat and threw his phone. The victim said she was going to leave because of his behaviour and he responded: "Ok you c***, run off like you normally do". He then pushed her and said: "You're not going anywhere, you're not leaving through the door, the only way you're leaving is through the balcony." Prosecutor Mari Watkins said Scaddan pushed the victim to the floor and punched her to the head. She went into the bathroom to get away from the defendant. He said he would calm down and asked her to open the door, but when she did he pushed her into the bath, climbed on top of her, turned on the shower and held the shower head at her face. The victim said she wasn't sure if Scaddan was using the shower head as a weapon but the defendant was repeatedly punching her. The victim said she had trouble catching her breath, the water was cold and her head was stinging. She pleaded with him to stop and eventually he assisted her out of the bath, telling her to "sort herself out" in the living room. A neighbour came to the front door and intervened but the defendant said the victim had "done it all to herself." Scaddan continued to degrade the victim, called her a "slag" and said she had "shagged everyone in the flats." The police were called and the victim was described as having a lump to her forehead which looked like a "tennis or golf ball." There was blood coming from her nostril and scram marks to her face. The defendant was in the car park to the flats shouting "I am going to get you." He was aggressive towards officers and the victim was initially reluctant to disclose what had happened, but she later told officers she had been assaulted. She was taken to the Grange University Hospital where she was treated for bruises to the front and left side of her head, a 3cm by 0.5cm wound to the left side of her skull and bruises to the bridge of her nose. Scaddan, now of King Street, Brynmawr, was interviewed and initially denied the offence but he later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard he has three previous convictions for offences of harassment and domestic violence. In a victim personal statement read to the court by Ms Watkins, the victim said: "I am incredibly confused with my emotions. I have loved Scaddan so much but the incident in the bath is really serious and now I need to protect myself. I don't know what to do with myself. I feel I am unable to leave my flat, unable to watch TV or listen to music. I feel Scaddan is involved in everything I have done and I don't know how to do it without him. I sit on my sofa hoping it's a nightmare but I receive a phone call about the incident and it's in my face again. I am worried about the outcome and how Scaddan will react and fear he will come for me. "Scaddan has left me feeling I will be unable to date again, I don't want another boyfriend. The incident in the shower will never leave my head. I thought I was going to die, it won't ever leave me. Ever since he's been away I have been looking at his flat while walking my dogs and it's caused me to cry as a reminder of our relationship. When I think about the relationship, I have many emotions about it and I'm incredibly worried about the future." In mitigation, Charles Archer said his client feels "deeply ashamed" about his actions and "wishes he could take it back." The barrister said the route of the offence stems from the defendant's serious mental health problems and his heavy use of cannabis and alcohol. Judge Carl Harrison sentenced Scaddan to a total of 16 months imprisonment. The defendant was also made subject to a restraining order for five years. Gwent Police was approached for a custody photo of the defendant but the force declined to do so in this case. This interactive tool allows you to check the latest crime statistics for your area