Man jailed after trying to make pregnant ex miscarry

A man has been jailed after subjecting his pregnant ex-girlfriend to a vicious and prolonged assault during which he threatened to "kick the baby out of her."

Samuel Easterbrook, 20, repeatedly kicked and punched 18-weeks pregnant Kira Brooks in the stomach in an attack that presiding Judge Jeremy Griggs called "as unpleasant as it gets."

Easterbrook was jailed for 21 months after admitting to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage during the trial at Exeter Crown Court.

The court heard how, after the couple had split, Easterbrook had attacked Brooks at her home on 16 May.

After smashing her television and pouring bleach on her clothes while she was out, he waited for her to return before punching and kicking her and stabbing her in the arm, the Exeter Express & Echo reported.

"She was petrified. He began to push and kick her repeatedly in the stomach area and said he was going to get the baby out of her," said prosecutor Felicity Payne.

"He said if she was not going to be with him she could not have the child."

Defending Easterbrook, Ann Bellchambers said her client was "very remorseful."

"It was his way of getting his own back because he was very upset," she said. "He says she did not deserve what happened and is very remorseful.

"He has a very good work ethic and wants help with anger management."

Judge Griggs placed a restraining order banning Easterbrook from making any contact with his ex-girlfriend, adding that he would need to lodge an application through the family courts if he wished to see his child once it has been born.

"This was a nasty assault. Relationships come to an end for a variety of reasons but to react with this sort of behaviour is wholly unacceptable and has to be punished," he said.

"This is as unpleasant as it gets. It involved the use of a knife and what appears to be a deliberate attempt to cause your child to be aborted. Thankfully, that has not happened."