Dad-to-be slapped his pregnant girlfriend after night of rows
A vodka-drinking dad-to-be slapped his 14-weeks pregnant girlfriend so hard she fell to the ground on her tummy outside a shop, a court heard.
Gary Ward, 32, of Dundas Street, Monk wear mouth, Sunderland, hit her after they popped out for matches after a night of arguments.
The window cleaner pleaded guilty to assault by beating on the basis of a single slap outside the Mowbray Stores outlet in Peel Street, Sunderland, on Sunday, May 31.
Ward has now been hit with a 12-month restraining order to stay away from his victim, from whom he has since split.
Prosecutor Jeff Taylor told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “They had been together for 18 months, and she was 14 weeks pregnant.
“She indicated that this gentleman had been drinking vodka. At 1.30am she left the property and returned at 4.30am with a friend.
“Mr Ward was being argumentative.
“She left and went to a local store and she was slapped twice and fell to the ground and landed on her stomach.
“I understand that the couple are no longer together.”
However, Mr Taylor said the agreed basis of plea was that Ward had assaulted her at the shop but not in the house.
In a police statement, Ward accepted he had
slapped her and she had fallen to the ground.
At the time of the assault
he was subject to a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for threatening behaviour, which had just six days left to run.
Neil Hodgson, defending, said: “He wants to apologise for his behaviour.
“The child isn’t yet born but he hopes he can have some contact, via th er elevant services, because he would like to play a part in his child’s life.
“He had had too much to drink.
“I would say there’ s no need to bring the suspended sentence into force.”
Ward, who also pleaded guilty to failing to answer police bail on Tuesday, July 14, was given a 24-month community order.
He must complete 25 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and do up to 30 sessions of the Building Better Relationships programme. He was fined £40 and must pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.