A father-to-be who did not want his partner to have their baby kicked her in the stomach and stamped on her, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

As a result the woman started bleeding and, when she went to her doctor, he told her she was no longer pregnant.

Her now ex-partner Oscar Love, 23, admitted three charges of assault and one of perverting the course of justice.

He was jailed for three and a half years.

Peter Forbes, prosecuting, said Love and the woman were in a relationship which was fine for the first two months but then he started to be violent.

In the first assault at their home in Victoria Road, Margate, he grabbed her by the throat, pushed her on the bed and kicked and stamped on her stomach.

He squeezed her throat so much she passed out.

She stayed with her parents for a fortnight but Love sent her a text message saying he loved her and had changed so she returned to him.

“Everything was good for a week and then he whacked her several times,” Mr Forbes said.

At the end of October she found out she was pregnant. Love said he did not want her to have the baby and, after she refused to have an abortion, he kicked and stamped on her stomach.

On November 27 the third assault took place, when Love started slapping her and said he was going to kill her.

He picked a slat from the bed and began beating her, punched and kicked her and held a knife to her throat, causing a puncture wound.

"It is no exaggeration to say your partner was black and blue with bruises which you caused her" - Judge Heather Norton

“She thought he was going to cut her throat,” Mr Forbes said. The beating continued for five or six hours.

When she took her child to nursery the following day staff saw the bruises and called the police.

Love was arrested but denied causing the injuries.

While in custody Love contacted her and told her to retract her statement.

He has previous convictions for domestic violence.

Alexia Zimbler, defending, said Love was not sure if the woman was pregnant as tests had been positive and negative. He denied hitting her to bring about an abortion.

“He started taking drugs and his life went out of control,” she said.

Judge Heather Norton told Love: “It is no exaggeration to say your partner was black and blue with bruises which you caused her.

“The problem with domestic violence is that it is not just the injuries which are caused at the time but the lasting trauma and fear. I see no remorse in you and you have a long way to go.”

Love was also given a restraining order for seven years.

Investigating officer PC Leah Roberts said: "It can often be very difficult for people to escape from abusive relationships so I commend the victim in this case for having the courage to report the terrible offences committed against her.

"There is never any excuse for using violence against a partner or anyone else, and by doing so Oscar Love has demonstrated he is a danger to women and cannot be trusted to behave in an acceptable manner.

"Tackling domestic violence is one of Kent Police's priorities and I urge victims to have the confidence to report incidents to us, safe in the knowledge we will take them seriously and provide them with all the necessary support they require."