EDMONTON -- An Edmonton man who poured wine and milk on his common-law wife, hit her with a metal bar and beat her "from head to toe" was handed a two-year jail term yesterday.

Marc Joseph Menard, 43, was also ordered to submit a DNA sample for the national DNA databank and prohibited from possessing weapons for 10 years after pleading guilty in provincial court to assault with a weapon.

"Essentially, she was literally beaten from head to toe by Mr. Menard," said Crown prosecutor Rob Beck, adding the victim suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has been relocated to a secret location outside Alberta.

"She is quite afraid of him and has a hard time leaving her apartment because she is always looking over her shoulder," said Beck.

Court heard Menard and Karen Prue had been living together at an apartment at 8220 Jasper Ave., and on Sept. 13, 2008, he began "drinking heavily" and the pair began arguing about their poor financial state.

Menard pushed Prue, poured a cup of wine on her head and yelled at her that he felt she was going to leave him as soon as she received an expected inheritance.

The victim retreated into the bedroom and stayed there for several hours before emerging to get a glass of milk.

Menard then attacked her again. He flipped her on her back, stood on her arms and poured the glass of milk all over her before punching and slapping her in the face.

He then told her she was going to "watch her kids die" and then he was going to kill her and then kill himself.

Court heard Menard then began choking Prue to the point where she could not breathe. "She believed she was going to die at that time," said Beck.

The woman somehow managed to escape the chokehold and ran to the door to flee from the suite. However, he caught her, slammed the door on her fingers and hit her with a metre-long metal bar used to secure the door.

She then managed to run onto the balcony and call for help and neighbours kicked in the door and rescued her.

Police were called and tactical team members eventually arrested a barricaded Menard following a brief struggle.

Court heard Prue suffered two black eyes, a swollen and bruised face, nose and lips, scratches to her cheek and extensive bruising to her arms, chest and forehead.

Defence lawyer Kent Teskey told court that Menard -- a heavy equipment operator and laser engraver -- is very remorseful and has found God while taking Bible study classes at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

"I pray for Karen every day and I hope she finds forgiveness," said Menard.

Menard was sentenced to time served after getting double credit for the year he spent in pretrial custody.

Charges of aggravated assault, unlawful confinement and uttering death threats were withdrawn in exchange for the plea.

TONY.BLAIS@SUNMEDIA.CA