A woman scarred for life when her boyfriend hurled a kettle of boiling water over her has told of her terror over his violent mood swings.

Keeley Foldesi was left suffering nightmares and sleepless nights and turned to drink to numb the pain she suffered at the hands of Justin Ellis.

She has revealed she plans to flee the country after he was jailed for just 18 months today.

New Zealand-born Keeley, 24, who runs a juice bar in Brighton, said: "He'll be let out of prison soon - I can't wait to leave this country and get home before he's freed."

An argument broke out between the pair after he returned to her flat in Brighton in an "odd mood" on the evening of December 19 2005.

Miss Foldesi asked unemployed Ellis to leave but refused to give him money for a taxi.

Ellis went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea which she threw at him before he hurled the recently boiled kettle at her.

The scalding left disfiguring blisters down the entire length of Miss Foldesi's left arm but she considers herself lucky.

She said: "It could have been my face."

Ellis admitted causing grievous harm yesterday at Lewes Crown Court, where judge Charles Kemp described the attack as an "appalling act of violence".

Miss Foldesi said she hoped her story would warn other women to be on guard against "control freak" men who lure victims with tales of hardship and woe.

She met Ellis, a 27-year-old builder, in Brighton a year after she left New Zealand and took a shine to him immediately.

She said: "We were in a pub when he came over and started chatting me up.

"He told me his story and it seemed like he had had a hard life in the poor end of the city. I felt sorry for him.

"I suppose I'm one of those women drawn to guys in need and I enjoy the idea that somehow I can help or save them.

"My first boyfriend was a bit like that - we were 16 at the time and that relationship also ended in violence with him knocking me to the ground.

"Justin told me he was abused as a child and I just fell for him straight away. He came back to my flat in the city on that first night and he stayed over.

"It was a turbulent relationship and we were forever arguing. He never had any money and was always taking mine. He would get violent whenever I spoke to him about it.

"He punched a mirror and cut his hand on one occasion and broke a door on another. Each time I thought my God, what am I doing with this guy?'.

The couple broke up but six months later Ellis, living in Halland Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, begged for forgiveness and Miss Foldesi took him back, even though she knew his violent mood swings would continue.

She said: "You knew when one of his moods was coming - you would see his eyes change."

On the night of the scalding the two had been out for a few drinks at clubs before returning to her flat.

She felt something was wrong soon after arriving: "I looked into his eyes and I knew what was going to happen. I got scared and asked him to leave. He wanted money for a taxi but I refused.

"Then it started. He pushed me up against a window, put his hand in my jean pocket and took a £10 note from my purse. I told him to get out but he said he would have a cup of tea first.

"I kept asking him to go and I became mad because he wouldn't leave."

The court heard Miss Foldesi lost her temper and threw a cup of tea at Ellis. She said: "He called me a bitch and reached for the jug kettle, filled with newly-boiled water.

"He took the lid off and threw the whole lot over me. I backed away and just managed to turn sideways so it didn't go over my face.

"I felt my whole body burning and quickly pulled off my top. I saw my arm - there was no skin on it, it was raw.

"I screamed it's burning, it's burning' and I remember neighbours knocking on the door asking what was going on.

"Justin prevented me from answering them. I was on the ground by this time, just wanting the pain to go away.

"Justin told the neighbours everything was okay and said she's fine, she's fine'.

"I needed to go to hospital but he wouldn't let me until I had promised I'd tell the doctors how I had tripped over a power cable and the jug fell on me.

"I didn't care what I said at that stage. I was in horrible pain - I wouldn't wish the ordeal on my worst enemy. I was just shaking. Normally, I am quite good in taking pain but this was different. There was just no skin on my arm and I couldn't look at it."

Miss Foldesi was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, given morphine and later released but just 48 hours later she was back in hospital again when her arm became infected. She was put on antibiotics and to this day she must not let her arm become exposed to the sun.

She said: "During this time Justin was being really nice to me and he even brought me flowers although I discovered later he had paid for them with my money.

"He had asked me for some cash while I was in hospital and said he hadn't eaten for a day. I gave him my card and pin number and later discovered he had maxed it - he still owes me the £600 he took."

It was then Miss Foldesi decided to go to the police and she was interviewed by staff from the anti victimisation unit, which handles domestic violence, at Brighton police station.

She said: "I was still very mixed up at that stage. I still had feelings for Justin and I just wanted someone to warn him to behave. I never thought they would arrest him.

"I still wasn't sure I was doing the right thing until I saw him in court and his expression said everything. He looked like he just didn't care about me or what happened to me.

"I knew then I had done the right thing."

Miss Foldesi, who is making plans to return to New Zealand, feels some guilt to this day. She said: "Maybe I should not have asked Justin to leave my flat that night - I dont know."

But she went on: "The police and AVU staff were really understanding and I couldn't have gone through all this without their support. But I'm unhappy with the sentence and wondering what the point of me doing anything was."

Miss Foldesi said her attitude towards men had changed forever. She said: "At first, I felt anger towards them all and I didn't know how to behave normally with them.

"But I've healed mentally now. I was too scared to get close to them at first but now it's not so bad.

"I reckon I can spot the bad ones, the ones with soulful looks, a mile away now - and I know I have got to avoid them."

Eillis's lawyer, Jonathan Ray, told the court: "He certainly accepts responsibility for his actions and he is genuinely remorseful."

Ellis, of Thetford, Norfolk, was jailed for two months to run consecutively for breaching a conditional discharge in September 2004 for possessing 15 Ecstasy pills.

Det Con Richard Ruffle, who investigated the attack, said: "Keeley can now start to move on with her life secure in the knowledge that the police and the courts take domestic violence very seriously."