A woman whose eyes were gouged out by her partner said today he "robbed me of one of the most precious things in life".
Shane Jenkin, 33, launched his "premeditated, sustained and vicious attack" on 31-year-old mother-of-two Tina Nash last year, also breaking her jaw and nose.
Attempts to save the sight in one of her eyes failed and she was left completely blind.
Tina said she looks forward to going to sleep "because in my dreams I have sight"
In a statement released after Jenkin admitted GBH with intent at Truro Crown Court this morning, Nash said she was glad he had "at least taken responsibility for changing my life forever".
She said: "I truly feel that, when he was strangling me, he was trying to murder me.
"He has taken everything from me and robbed me of one of the most precious things in life - my sight.
"I miss the things which people take for granted the most such as seeing the sky and the sea."
Blinded Tina Nash with an escort outside court
She added: "Some days I just don't want to get up, but I'm determined to provide a future for my children and this is my motivation."
Powerfully-built Jenkin, of Sea Lane, Hayle, Cornwall, was originally charged with attempted murder but court staff confirmed he had admitted GBH at the court today. He will be sentenced next month.
Nash, who bravely faced Jenkin in court at a previous hearing, added that she had been left feeling "buried alive, claustrophobic and not in control of my life" by the assault.
Her sons were aged 13 and three at the time of the attack.
Shane Jenkin, 33, who has admitted GBH with intent
In an interview with the BBC, Ms Nash said she thought she could change Jenkin but warned other victims of domestic violence to get out "before it is too late - it's not going to get better, it's going to get worse".
She said she hoped Jenkin was not "buzzing" over being the last person she ever saw and wondered if he was "bragging about it".
After the attack, Jenkin blamed her, she said.
"He didn't try and help me.
"If I had seen someone in that much pain, looking like that, then the first thing I'd do is get help and he didn't and I can't forgive him for that.
"He said I was like his best mate so I don't understand why he would hurt someone he was supposed to care about."
The victim said there were previous occasions when she helped Jenkin get out of trouble for hurting her.
"I have done so much for him and this is how he repaid me."
Explaining why she could not walk away from the relationship, she said: "I thought I could change him and help him.
"I thought he was getting better."
Detective Inspector Chris Strickland, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said Jenkin carried out a "premeditated, sustained and vicious attack on a defenceless woman".
"Our view is that Jenkin deliberately strangled Tina into a state of unconsciousness in order that he could inflict these terrible injuries," he said.
"Tina's life will never be the same and her lifelong disability will be a constant reminder of the attack.
"Her injuries were so shocking that friends who saw her soon after the incident found it difficult to stay in the room.
"Tina has displayed incredible strength however and has shown great desire to be able to care for her two children despite not being able to see them as they grow up.
"We would publicly like to thank the members of the public from Penzance and Hayle who helped us locate Jenkin when he fled following the attack. Their help was invaluable to our inquiry."