A man who admitted kicking his heavily pregnant girlfriend in the stomach during a row at a Wrexham shopping park has been jailed.
The judge who jailed Andrew Grant Prince at Mold Crown Court today said it was “utterly remarkable” that his victim had given birth to a healthy baby just nine days after the attack.
Prince, 27, who had no previous convictions, was jailed for a year by Judge Niclas Parry.
“You kicked her repeatedly in the stomach in the presence of members of the public, who were rightly alarmed at your conduct,” the judge told him.
“It is utterly remarkable that nine days after the attack your victim gave birth to a healthy child.
“The injuries to your victim mercifully were not serious.
“Any right-minded person will know that anyone who kicks a pregnant woman in the stomach must receive a custodial sentence.”
Prince, a warehouse worker of Rockwood Road, Brynteg, attacked Mercedes Michelle Harper at Island Green Shopping Park on July 11 this year.
He put forward a basis of plea that the assault did not involve kicking.
But that was rejected by the judge, who refused to adjourn for evidence to be called because he said Prince had pleaded guilty on the full facts in the magistrates’ court on the day of his intended trial, when witnesses had attended.
Prosecuting barrister Frances Wilmot said a man at the retail park heard screaming and saw a man kick the victim to the stomach with his right leg three or four times.
She was screaming with each blow and fell to the ground.
The defendant walked away, she followed him and there was an argument where they were swearing at each other.
He was seen to kick her twice more to the stomach, again causing her to fall.
A short time later, police received a call from a hysterical woman asking for help, but the call was then ended.
Investigations showed that it had come from the victim’s mobile phone.
A short time later, Miss Harper flagged down a passing car. The female driver could see that she was distressed, put her to sit in the car and called the police.
When officers arrived and arrested the defendant, she became upset, telling officers they were ruining their lives and that they would have the baby taken off them.
Interviewed, Prince mainly gave a no comment interview but claimed that he acted in self defence.
She had bruising to the cheek and a graze to the stomach but did not make a formal complaint.
The court heard she was supporting the defendant and had been in correspondence with him while he was on remand.
For full story see - http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/man-jailed-kicking-pregnant-girlfriend-10315025
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