The 43-year-old man, who cannot be named because that would identify the victim, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool County Court to making a threat to kill and intentionally causing injury.

On April 14 the man entered the victim's home and demanded to see his children, the court was told.

He pushed the victim onto the bed and pinned her arms behind her back. When the victim screamed, he held a pillow against her face and attempted to wrap duct tape around her mouth.

He choked the victim and punched her 10 times in the face. The pair's two young children could be heard crying in the room next door.

The victim called out to her daughter for help. When the child entered the room, she stood between her mother and father and said: "Don't hurt mummy anymore."

An assessment conducted by a Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine doctor revealed the victim suffered multiple impacts of blunt trauma, numerous bruises and subconjunctival hemmorrhages to both eyes.

In a victim impact statement, the mother said she was constantly anxious and frustrated, and re-lived the "frightful experience" in her head almost daily.

"I don't understand how someone who professed to love me could hurt me as bad as I was hurt that night," she said in a statement.

The man sat in court with his head in his hands as the victim's disclosure was read out. Lawyer Michael Reardon said the offending occurred after a six-month period filled with financial pressures, a break down of marriage and degenerating mental health. He said his client had major depressive disorder and had stopped taking his medication.

Judge Michael O'Connell adjourned sentencing until next week.

The man was remanded in custody, where he has spent the last 504 days.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.