A cowardly abuser who beat his girlfriend so violently she'll she now spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair has had more than three years added to his prison sentence.

Adam Fleming, from Ramsgate, left his victim with brain damage and requiring around-the-clock care after medics found "every inch" of her face covered in bruises.

So bad were her injuries that she now no longer recognises her daughter.

Fleming, 27, was jailed for 14 years at Canterbury Crown Court in December after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

But the sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal, which yesterday ruled it was "unduly lenient" and increased it to 17-and-a-half years.

The victim's daughter had told crown court judge Simon James how her mum was “normal and healthy” before meeting Fleming, but she would later start noticing bruising around her face.

Her fears that Fleming was subjecting her mum to violence were confirmed after learning she had been rushed into intensive care on April 6 last year.

“When I visited it was the worst I’d ever seen her," she said.

"I did not recognise my own mum and hospital staff were worried she would not recognise me.

“Knowing she would not recognise me was heartbreaking.

“(We will) never be able to have a mother and daughter relationship again.

“I can see in my mum’s eyes she is frustrated, she can’t move and get up, and I have seen her cry when she can’t do this.”

Prosecutors described how neighbours would regularly hear screaming coming from the property Fleming and his girlfriend shared in Old School Row, Ramsgate.

And prior to the “life-threatening attack”, a social worker became concerned after noticing half the victim's face was covered in bruises, William Goss, prosecuting said.

Days later, Fleming would phone the social worker claiming his partner fell over and suffered a seizure.

When medics arrived at their Ramsgate home they found “every inch” of her face covered in bruises as she lay defenceless on the floor.

Paramedics rushed her to hospital, where she was found to have suffered brain damage, a dislocated iris, numerous facial fractures and broken eye-socket.

Following the attack, the victim would be kept in intensive care for 10 days, where she was placed on a respirator.

Now, she requires around-the-clock care and must use a wheelchair.

Upon jailing Fleming for 14 years, Judge James said: “Anyone who is capable of causing such serious and life-changing injuries must be considered a risk of causing serious harm, by reason of the commission of further offences.

“To reach any other conclusion would fly in the face of good sense.”

The sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General Alex Chalk QC MP under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Speaking after yesterday's hearing, Mr Chalk said: "Adam Fleming’s savage attack has left his former partner with life-changing injuries, and she will never be able to live independently again as a result.

"No sentence can rectify the appalling damage done by Fleming, but the increased sentence shows that cowardly domestic abusers can expect to go to prison for a long time."