A controlling boyfriend from Torquay demanded his partner obey him during a campaign of terrifying abuse and violence.
William Hatton, from Torquay, dished out multiple beatings and installed spyware on the woman's phone to track her every move, a court heard.
During one attack, the 41-year-old wrapped a tea towel around her head and repeatedly hit her against the floor. She thought he would kill her. She was left with multiple bruises and a bleed on the brain.
Hatton, of Belmont Road, was found guilty after trial of a series of domestic violence offences, including ABH, two assaults by beating, two strangulations and controlling or coercive behaviour.
He was jailed for four years at Exeter Crown Court.
Judge Neil Davey KC said the abusive relationship was characterised by Hatton's obsession and fixation with the victim.
"You would not let her go to places without you, accused her of having affairs, asking who she was speaking to on the phone, belittled her, criticised her running of the household, told her she needed to obey you and that was her purpose as a woman and partner," said the judge.
"You secretly installed on her phone System Update which allowed you to inspect and record everything she did with her phone. Recording her phone and always knowing where she was.
"You used multiple methods of controlling behaviour, caused fear of violence and many occasions of violence that caused significant psychological harm."
The strangulation offences happened during an argument. Hatton twice grabbed the woman around the throat with his hand to the point she struggled to breathe.
The court was told there were multiple incidents of violence and prolonged abuse over 10 months. Hatton, a civil engineer and groundsman, cut her off from family and made repeated threats to kill. He watched her on cameras he put up in the flat.
The most serious assault happened when Hatton flew into a rage after she turned off the location tracking on the phone. He wrapped a tea towel around her head so it covered her face and pushed her to the floor.
He held the tea towel while repeatedly hitting her head against the floor and while striking her on the arm with a rolling pin.
The victim thought her ordeal lasted about 30 seconds. She was left bleeding, with swelling to her nose, arm, leg and head, black eyes and a subdural hematoma to the brain.
The victim told the court she was overwhelmed and left emotionally exhausted by Hatton's relentless behaviour.
She said in a statement: "It is difficult to explain why I didn't leave sooner. People may think the decision is simple but for me it didn't seem like an option. I thought no one would believe me."
Torquay Man Jailed for Demanding Obedience in Abuse Campaign