Actor struck pregnant girlfriend

Producers of Waterloo Road have decided not to renew his contract

An actor convicted of attacking his heavily pregnant girlfriend failed to turn up in court for his trial.

Craig Fitzpatrick, 21, who starred in BBC television's Waterloo Road, was found guilty in his absence.

The court heard that he hit Julie Owens over the head with a shoe before threatening to punch her stomach.

Fitzpatrick, of Burnage, Manchester was found guilty of two counts of assault by Ashton-under-Lyne magistrates. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Miss Owens was seven months pregnant at the time of the attack.

'At large'

The court heard that he lost his temper as he accused his girlfriend of seeing someone else.

His solicitor said he had no explanation for his client's absence.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said Fitzpatrick, of Lane End Road, had yet to be traced and confirmed he was "still at large".

Fitzpatrick, who has also appeared in Shameless and Hollyoaks, will not return for the next series of Waterloo Road after producers decided not to renew his contract.