THUG TELLS GIRLFRIEND HE'LL 'BOOT THE BABY OUT OF HER' DURING SICKENING ATTACK
A man launched a brutal attack on his pregnant partner, threatening her with the chilling words: 'I will boot the baby out of you.' Brandon Fitzgerald, 23, from West Parade, Grimsby, admitted five offences, including coercive and controlling behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation between September last year and February this year.He initially admitted the offences in February, but later changed his pleas in April, before finally admitting again in July.
During a trip in February, the victim claimed he was unpleasant and called her names.
The situation escalated into violence in a hotel room, where she was struck multiple times.
"He strangled her to the point where she could not breathe, until he let go," said prosecutor Matthew Moore-Taylor.
They returned to Lincolnshire by car, during which she started to bleed, but no medical help was sought out of fear.
On February 7, during another trip, violence flared again.
The woman was punched five times, and Fitzgerald attempted to kick her in the stomach after shouting his threat to 'kick the baby out of you.' She fled to a nearby restaurant, and an ambulance was called.
She was treated for injuries to her eyes, ribs, a broken tooth, and a broken nose.
A midwife later described her injuries as "the worst she had seen in a victim of domestic abuse." The woman later miscarried, though there was no evidence Fitzgerald caused it.
He was arrested the following week, denying the assaults.
Her victim impact statement described her "extreme insecurity," and how she hoped he would change, but now she is a survivor.
She feels she cannot go out in public easily and is receiving support.
Fitzgerald has 10 convictions for 24 offences, many linked to violence, including incidents at B&Q in Grimsby and affray.
Mitigating, her lawyer Nataly Dean, said he pleaded guilty early, suffered trauma including the loss of his father, and has impulse control issues due to mental disorders.
She noted he had helped prevent a fellow inmate from taking his own life while remanded.
The judge emphasized that Fitzgerald was not responsible for the miscarriage, and sentenced him to four years and six months imprisonment, with a 10-year Restraining Order preventing contact with the victim.
As she left court, the woman, supported by friends and witnesses, said: "Thank you judge."
