Man jailed for kicking pregnant partner in stomach

A man who kicked his partner in the stomach on the night she told him she was pregnant has been jailed for 18 months, with the same period on licence.

Jordan Kavanagh, 29, from Rathbrady Road, Limavady in County Londonderry, also grabbed his partner by the throat and punched her in the face while her mother was trying to help her, a court in Londonderry was told.

He also kicked an 11-week-old puppy during the attack on 13 December 2023.

Sentencing at Londonderry Crown Court, Judge Neil Rafferty described the case as "disgraceful and upsetting."

The judge praised the victim for taking the case and said she had been "totally vindicated".

The court heard on the night of 13 December 2023, Kavanagh had accused his girlfriend of stealing his beer and in a fit of anger kicked their 11-week-old puppy so hard the dog was sick.

Kavanagh then told the injured party to leave or he would kill her before threatening her with a pair of scissors.

The defendant was said to have calmed down and hugged the victim before dragging her across the room.

He then kicked her in the stomach and said he would kill the baby before he would let her hold it.

When the victim's mother was taking her to hospital, Kavanagh got into the vehicle and grabbed his girlfriend by the throat while punching her in the face.

When she was getting out of the vehicle he told her if she contacted police he would burn her out.

Police were called and Kavanagh was arrested.

Judge Rafferty said it had been "an appalling assault on the young woman", adding the attack on the puppy was "brutal and repugnant".

Kavanagh faced a series of charges including non-fatal strangulation, assaulting the woman and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order.