Brandon Fitzgerald, 23, of Grimsby, made his partner’s life a ‘living nightmare’. He repeatedly attacked her during her pregnancy and threatened to ‘boot’ the baby ‘out’ of her
A violent man attacked his pregnant partner and threatened to “boot out” her baby as he kicked her in a twisted rage.
Brandon Fitzgerald, 23, of Grimsby, subjected his girlfriend to violent abuse and threats between September last year and February this year. On one occasion, and Fitzgerald told her to “get rid of the baby” and then attacked her. In another incident, he repeatedly punched her and warned: “I will boot the baby out of you.”
Fitzgerald confessed to five offences at Grimsby Crown Court. He admitted to coercive and controlling behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation. His ex-partner described him as a “monster” that she couldn’t “escape” from, in a victim impact statement.
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Prosecutor, Matthew Moore-Taylor explained that on a trip away at the start of February, the victim said he had been unpleasant towards her and called her names. That switched 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 assistance was sought because she feared enquiries would have been made into how she came by her injuries, reports Grimsby Live.
The following weekend, on February 7, they went on another break, and in the hotel room violence flared once again. The woman was punched five times and Fitzgerald attempted to kick her in the stomach, after shouting his threat to ‘kick the baby out of you’. She fled the hotel and sought refuge at a nearby restaurant to where an ambulance was called. The woman was treated later at Hull Royal Infirmary for injuries to her eyes, ribs and a broken tooth and broken nose. Mr Taylor-Moore said a midwife reported it was “the worst injuries she had seen in a victim of domestic abuse.”
Tragically, the victim later miscarried, but there was no evidence to suggest Fitzgerald had caused it. When he was arrested the following week, he denied the assaults. Mr Moore-Taylor read the woman’s victim impact statement, in which she described her “extreme insecurity.” She said: “I hoped and prayed he would change. He never respected me as a person. It was like being in a living nightmare that I can never escape from. He turned into a monster.”
She added: “I once loved Brandon. I am a victim of domestic abuse. But now I am a survivor. Now I struggle to go out in public. People kept saying to leave, but I always thought he would change. I hope he changes in the future.” She said she was receiving support. The prosecutor said Fitzgerald had 10 convictions for 24 offences, many of them for violence – including assaults at B&Q in Grimsby and affray.
Mitigating, Natalie Dean said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. She said his actions had not caused the miscarriage. “She added her client had suffered a lot of trauma in his life, including the loss of his father last year. Miss Dean said his mental disorders result in impulsivity. She said while on remand in prison he had assisted in preventing a fellow inmate from taking his own life.
The defence barrister said he deeply regretted his actions and apologised to his ex-partner. Recorder Walker said that while on the first break, the victim had been assaulted. “You knew she was pregnant and strangled her to the point she could not breathe,” he said. He added: “She bled when in the car. She was too scared because she would have to say what happened.”
On the second trip, she was punched five times and Fitzgerald said “I will boot the baby out of you.” He launched a kick but she moved to get out of the way and she ran to a nearby restaurant from the hotel. Recorder Walker said: “It was conduct to humiliate and degrade her. It was a prolonged assault. She was pregnant at the time and in the aftermath of what happened she lost the baby.”
He added: “There was simply no excuse for your violent and abusive behaviour.” The judge said the defendant was not responsible for the miscarriage. He jailed Fitzgerald for a total of four years and six months. The judge imposed a 10-year Restraining Order in which Fitzgerald must never contact her directly or indirectly through social media.
As she left the court the victim, supported by friends and the witness service, said: “Thank you judge.”
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit** www.aafda.org.uk**.