A woman felt her eye "pop" and suffered a fractured eye socket as she was repeatedly struck in the face by her former partner, a court has heard.

The victim previously had a "fling" with John Lindfield who was drunk or on drugs when he turned up at a Great Yarmouth flat after finding out she was there.

Norwich Crown Court heard Lindfield - who has 23 previous convictions for 55 offences - was "swearing and shouting" at the woman who was attacked while she was on her own in a bedroom at the flat.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Matthew Edwards, prosecuting, said Lindfield "started punching her in the face" until she "felt something pop near her eye" before blood started pouring out.

The court heard Lindfield also "grabbed her by the throat" until she almost lost consciousness.

The 43-year-old, who laughed in court and claimed the prosecution case was "all lies", was arrested following the attack on December 9 last year.

Lindfield, of Wellesley Road, Yarmouth, appeared for sentencing on Tuesday having admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Eastern Daily Press: John LindfieldJohn Lindfield (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)Before he was sentenced Mr Edwards read out an impact statement on behalf of the victim, who still suffers pins and needles as a result of the fractured eye socket.

He said she was still "frightened" of Lindfield and has had to "flee" Yarmouth "for my safety" but now feels "isolated" as a result.

She said she feels she "can't go out" as she has a "price on my head" as far as Lindfield "and the people he knows" are concerned.

John Morgans, mitigating, said Lindfield had "accepted what he's done and is sorry for that".

Imposing an extended five-year sentence made up of three years custody and two years on licence, Judge Andrew Shaw concluded Lindfield was a "dangerous" offender.

Eastern Daily Press: Judge Andrew ShawJudge Andrew Shaw (Image: Newsquest)Judge Shaw said the victim had suffered a "very grave injury" and insisted it was "preposterous" to suggest Lindfield was remorseful with the guilty plea being his only mitigation.

Lindfield was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.