Vengeful Leeds thug punched pregnant girlfriend in the stomach and posted intimate photos on Instagram
Thug also hurled paint around her home and strangled her
A thug who punched his pregnant partner in the stomach after telling him she was pregnant has been jailed.
The vengeful 21-year-old also controlled the woman, and when she tried to end their relationship, he posted intimate and private photos of her on Instagram.
The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand.
He pleaded guilty to coercive control, strangulation and sharing intimate photos.
It was heard at Leeds Crown Court that the defendant and the woman had got together last year but the situation quickly deteriorated.
He would grab her and threaten to kill her.
In June she told him that she was pregnant, but during an argument days later he punched her to the stomach.
He also pinned her to the wall and put both hands around her neck. She suffered a miscarriage shortly afterwards.
She ended the relationship weeks later after he attacked her again, throwing her against a baby gate.
But the next day he returned to her home and vandalised it with paint, throwing it over her carpet. He also stole money from her to buy drugs.
He then began posting the private photos on Instagram over the following weeks.
He was eventually arrested and denied being violent towards the woman, but did admit sharing the images.
The defendant, who is from the Leeds area, has previous convictions for violence.
Mitigating on his behalf, barrister Andrew Stranex said his remand had been his first taste of custody, adding: “The last six months have had a very significant impact on him.
“It’s quite clear he has used this time to look within himself and get some assistance [for his issues].
“In his words, he is never going back to prison. He is motivated to get out and address the issues that he knows he has.
“He is not going to drink or go back to drugs. He has identified that it exacerbates the problems he has.”
Judge Kate Rayfield said she could “not be absolutely sure” that the strangulation played a part in the miscarriage, but suggested oxygen deprivation can be linked.
She jailed him for 32 months and gave him a five-year restraining order.