Victim: 'My boyfriend turned into a monster'

PREGNANT WOMAN'S HORRIFIC ORDEAL

- By PETER CRAIG

A MAN punched and attempted to kick his pregnant partner, shouting the harrowing threat: "I will boot the baby out of you.

Brandon Fitzgerald, 23, of 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.

At Grimsby Crown Court, prosecutor Matthew Moore-Taylor told how Fitzgerald had admitted the offences in February but later changed his pleas in April, before admitting the offences again in July.

The prosecutor said that on a trip away at the start of February, the victim said he had been unpleasant towards her and called her names.

That deteriorated into violence in the hotel room, where she was hit a number of times.

"He strangled her to the point where she could not breathe, until he let go," said Mr Moore-Taylor.

They returned to Lincolnshire by car and during the journey she started to bleed, said the prosecutor. No medical assis tance was sought because she feared enquiries would have been made into how she came by her injuries.