Man jailed for unborn baby death

King had a history of violence against his girlfriends

A Liverpool man who violently attacked his heavily pregnant girlfriend on Christmas Eve, killing their unborn baby, has been jailed for eight years.

David King, 31, kicked Hayley Cain in the stomach during a row.

On Christmas Day doctors told her the child was dead and three days later she delivered the stillborn boy.

King pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and the judge at Liverpool Crown Court ordered a charge of child destruction to lie on file.

David Turner QC, prosecuting, said King and Ms Cain had been in a relationship for seven years, although they lived apart, and had a five-year-old daughter together.

King was visiting Ms Cain's home at her request to bring pyjamas for their daughter when an argument broke out and he suddenly kicked her in the middle of her stomach, the court was told.

Ms Cain fell over and landed on her back. King left, telling her mother who had come outside the house following the disturbance that she had fallen over.

'Ashamed' attack

On Christmas Day Ms Cain was concerned about the baby and went to hospital where she was told the baby was dead.

She was given an appointment to return three days later and in the early hours of 29 December she delivered the stillborn baby, who weighed 3lb 7oz and was given the name Shay, the jury heard.

Mr Turner said: "The death of the baby was a direct result of King's kick."

He told the court Ms Cain was "ashamed" that she had been attacked by the father of her baby and told doctors she had fallen onto a table.

However, consultant obstetrician Dr Clement Jones considered the 10in by 2in bruising to be consistent with the mark of a shoe and, suspecting domestic abuse, he reported the matter to police.

After King was arrested, he initially denied being violent but later said he had defended himself because Ms Cain attacked him.

'Deep regret'

The defendant only admitted his guilt in the days before his trial when Judge Henry Globe QC ruled that the jury would be told about his previous history of violence against girlfriends.

It included an incident in 2002 when he repeatedly assaulted Ms Cain, pushing her head against a wall, kicking and punching her.

David Steer QC, mitigating for King, told the court the defendant "deeply regrets" the loss of his son and now requires counselling for his grief.

Jailing him for eight years, Judge Globe warned King that further violent offences may lead to a whole life jail term.

He said: "If you even think of committing a violent offence again there will be only one sentence available to consider.

"That will be an indeterminate sentence and that means you will be locked up for a very long time, indeed perhaps for the rest of your life."