SNS GroupA man laughed at a woman as he tried to kill her at a flat in Glasgow.
Ryan Hamilton, 25, turned on his victim at her home in Milton on February 13 this year.
A judge heard how she was left so badly affected that she fears it will impact her studies and her future career.
Hamilton – who already had a number of violent convictions – faces a lengthy jail term after he admitted to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
Prosecutor Eric Robertson told how the woman was subjected to a “sustained assault” after the pair ended up at the victim’s flat, having earlier been at a restaurant together.
Mr Robertson said: “A neighbour heard a disturbance. There was an argument in the kitchen, and the woman was shouting at him to ‘get out of her home’, but he (Hamilton) refused.
“He became aggressive. Hamilton struck her on the head with a sharp object. She felt as if her right eye had exploded.
“Hamilton struck her several times. He threw her onto the couch and was laughing while on top of her.
“He started laying into her and was trying to suffocate her with a blanket from her couch.
“The woman stated she felt like the assault went on for about an hour or two. She honestly thought he was going to kill her in her house.”
The victim – who was struggling to breathe – begged Hamilton to call an ambulance.
He instead laughed again before walking out.
Hamilton initially called his mother asking to be collected as he was covered in blood.
He instead got on a bus and later told his mum that “two guys” had hurt him.
The woman first went to a neighbour for help, then phoned her father, who took her to the hospital.
She had suffered a serious hand injury and needed tendon repair surgery and is expected to require further treatment.
Mr Robertson said the victim, who was also left scarred for life, is “very worried” about how this will impact her job prospects.
The advocate depute added: “She feels completely traumatised, is terrified to go home and suffers from flashbacks.”
Hamilton, of Glasgow’s St George’s Cross, was later charged.
He initially made no comment, but went on to state at one stage: “I am not a domestic abuser. I am disgusted with myself.”
Lord Scott continued Hamilton’s remand in custody and adjourned the case for background reports.
He is said to be considering a possible extended sentence involving a jail term and Hamilton being monitored on his release.
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