LINDA Harper, the former girlfriend of Mark Peers, says the terrifying moment her ex-partner jumped on her wearing a Halloween mask was ‘like being in a horror film’.

Ms Harper does not believe justice was served at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, when Peers was sentenced to two years and eight months for false imprisonment and actual bodily harm, and issued with an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting her.

She says her life has been devastated by the actions of the 44-year-old, who hid at her Penarth home and jumped on her dressed in a Halloween mask, leaving her with scratches and damage to her ribs.

Peers, the former landlord of the St Fagan’s Castle pub in Penarth, also tried to put a plastic bag in Ms Harper’s mouth to stop her from screaming.

She only realised it was him when she caught sight of his shoes. Linda, still severely traumatised by the harrowing ordeal, said: "Anyone would fear being jumped on like that, but it’s something I’ve got to live with for the rest of my life.

"If I hadn’t recognised his shoes I probably wouldn’t be here today.

"It was like being in a horror film.

"Since it happened I’ve lost my job and my independence," she added.

"I can’t even go to Penarth town centre without one of my daughters coming with me.

"I used to walk home from work at night but there’s no way I could do that now.

"It’s always on my mind that something like that could happen again."

Ms Harper is furious at the sentence issued to Peers, who previously denied a charge of attempted murder which was later dropped, and says she will challenge the ruling.

She is also upset that Peers was granted bail in February without her being notified.

"I just can’t believe he was allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of actual bodily harm, instead of attempted murder, without anyone from the Crown Prosecution Service consulting me," she said.

"The CPS only seemed to be interested in gaining a conviction, never mind what the victim wants.

"Granting him bail was also ridiculous.

"A friend said they’d seen Mark in Cardiff, and I couldn’t believe it when the police confirmed it was true.

"How could they let out a man who could have killed me?

"We will be lodging a formal complaint with the help of Women’s Aid, who have been incredibly supportive."

Ms Harper stood by Peers after he was left in a coma by a gas explosion at the St Fagan’s Castle pub, on Glebe Street, in January 2009.

The 44-year-old spent several months battling back to full health, supported by Ms Harper.

"It was an emotional time," she added.

"I think because Mark had lost so much weight he may have been feeling inadequate and he was worried I might leave him, although I never did anything to make him think that.

"With the pub reopening everything seemed to be getting back to normal.

"I look back now and can think of times when he was quite clingy, but certainly nothing suggested he would do something as awful as he did.

"I’m just glad he’s back behind bars."