A vicious thug 'branded' his former partner with the letter 'M' to prove he 'owned' her.
Martin Burns subjected terrified Amanda McManus to years of abuse, warning her she was 'his property'.
The mum spoke out in a bid to help other women and children suffering domestic abuse, the Daily Record reports.
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Burns told the 30-year-old no one would believe her if she tried to report what was happening during his reign of terror.
She endured a torrent of emotional and physical abuse during their seven-year relationship, but finally plucked up the courage to report him to protect her children.
The 31-year-old was finally convicted at Paisley Sheriff Court of domestic abuse and issued with a 10-year non-harassment order banning him from contacting Amanda, from Johnstone.
She explained: "He wouldn't let me go out with my friends and he was always checking my phone. He said I didn't need anyone else but him.
"He would constantly accuse me of having affairs with people and was even jealous of my relationship with my dad.
"He told me that no one else would ever want me and that I needed him financially."
"He branded an M into my back using his nails one day. Then he took a photo and started laughing before he said to me 'I told you, I own you'."
Amanda explained that Burns also threatened to harm himself if she called police.
She added: "He kept telling me that if I ever went to the police he would kill himself and he would also say 'no one will believe you'."
And she claims that he told her "I can do what I want with you, when I want" after he touched her inappropriately in front of her children.
The council worker recalled: "One day I woke up and it just clicked.
"My two children have their lives ahead of them and they needed to be protected that.
"What he put us through was absolutely horrific."
Amanda is now encouraging others to summon the courage and report their abusers.
She said: "I was scared I wouldn't be believed. The first thing I actually said to the police officer was 'I know you don't believe me' - but they encouraged me to keep going and to speak out.
"I now want to help other women and children. If you report domestic abuse to the police and stand by it you will get a conviction."
Burns was issued with a two-year community payback order and 250-hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty, he was also told to pay £500 in compensation and take part in domestic abuse programme, the Caledonian Project.
He will also be supervised by a social worker for two years.
Detective Chief Superintendent Samantha Faulds, Head of Public Protection, Police Scotland, said: "Our officers and staff are trained to recognise that domestic abuse isn't always violent or physical. It is often psychological: disempowering and isolating victims and removing them from the support of family and friends, which can have the most devastating impact.
"Recognising, within law, the full range of behaviours used by perpetrators to control, coerce, and instil fear in their victims, has been the single most significant step in our efforts to tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.
"In the last year, we have recorded more than 1700 offences under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act, covering behaviour that would never previously have been recognised within the law as abusive.
"Responsibility for domestic abuse lies solely with the perpetrator. Perpetrators should understand, we will respond to all reports of domestic abuse.
"We will delve into their histories, we will speak to previous partners, and we will use all of the powers at our disposal to ensure they face the full consequences of their behaviour."
