A drunk thug punched his on-and-off pregnant girlfriend in stomach during a fight that she says has ‘changed’ her.
John Lacey, 42, rekindled their romance when he came to stay with her in Newport in order to attend the scans of their unborn baby.
She was 14 weeks pregnant with the defendant travelling down from his home in Derby.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard there was an argument between the couple which resulted in the victim ending the relationship on March 22.
That day Lacey stayed in the garage overnight and on March 23 the attack happened.
Prosecutor Alex Orndal said Lacey had been drinking Malibu when another argument broke out and he pushed the victim.
He prevented his partner from going back into her house and grabbed her from behind and by the neck before striking her to the face.
Lacey dug his fingers into the victim’s mouth, leading her to bite him in an attempt to get him off of her.
After this, the defendant pulled his partner to the ground and punched her to the stomach.
The victim managed to get back into the house and her adult son called the police.
The defendant attempted to get back into the house and fled when officers arrived but was located in a nearby field and arrested.
Mr Orndal said that, ‘thankfully’, no injuries were caused to the unborn baby.
Lacey, now of Broad Street Common, Wentloog, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard he had nine previous convictions.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim said: ‘This incident has been really difficult, my relationship has beaten me down and have had to struggle with the effect of this relationship.
‘I am not the person I was before he changed me, he has ways of getting under my skin.
‘I’ll never forgive him for this, the mental and physical trauma he has put me through.
‘I used to be a happy, bubbly person and feel my personality has changed.’
In mitigation, Gareth Williams said his client had received 20 emails from the victim while he had been on remand in prison, with scan pictures and information about the pregnancy.
It was said the defendant recognised drink was a problem for him and played a role in his offending, but he was trying to tackle this issue.
Judge Simon Mills sentenced Lacey to 14 months imprisonment and made him subject to a restraining order for five years.