JEALOUS BOYFRIEND WITH VIOLENT PAST JAILED FOR ATTACKING PREGNANT PARTNER
A 24-year-old man named Liam Ashford was involved in a serious assault on his pregnant partner.The incident occurred after Ashford noticed his partner had a passcode on her phone and accused her of infidelity, according to prosecutor Evie Dean.
During the altercation, he grabbed her by the wrist, took her phone, and then proceeded to kick her in the stomach, despite her being 22 weeks pregnant with their child.
The victim described how she fell to the floor and tried to crawl away to escape.
The court heard that Ashford immediately apologized claiming she had 'got in his face,' but the violence continued as they returned to the household and inside he repeatedly blocked her path and grabbed her again.
The next morning, triggered by a barking dog, Ashford further assaulted her by throwing her coffee mug against the wall, pushing her against a wall, and grabbing her by the throat until she was struggling to breathe.
He also punched her in the face and stamped on her phone.
Ashford said he only pushed her, but he later pleaded guilty to four charges including assault causing actual bodily harm, battery, and criminal damage.
The victim reported suffering significant emotional distress, with nightmares and anxiety about future encounters.
It was revealed that Ashford has a criminal history involving violence against partners and ignoring court orders.
He was sentenced to 21 months in prison by Judge David Evans, who emphasized that the repeated assaults on his pregnant partner, while under a suspended sentence for prior offences, posed a serious risk, and that such conduct warranted immediate incarceration.
