10 years for ex-officer who punched pregnant partner
Friday 07 September 2012
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EmailA former police constable who repeatedly punched his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the stomach in an attempt to make her miscarry has been jailed for 10 years at Winchester Crown Court.
Matthew Cherry, 35, wore a balaclava and used a fake foreign accent to launch the "savage attack" at Caroline Craft's flat in Bournemouth, Dorset.
Mr Cherry punched her in the stomach and back, leaving her "bloodied and bruised."
But neither she or her baby were seriously harmed and she gave birth to a boy who is now 15 months old.
The court heard the couple split up after Miss Craft, 27, also a police officer, refused to have an abortion.
Mr Cherry, now living in Southampton, denied attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent in March last year in what was described as a "well-planned" attack.
But the jury rejected his claim that he was not the attacker and was several miles away renovating a house.
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