Adrian Dennis was sentenced yesterday after attacking his pregnant girlfriend in her Hackney home Pic: Metropolitan Police

A man who attacked his pregnant girlfriend with a walking stick has been jailed.

Adrian Dennis, 39, went to his girlfriend’s home in Hackney last November and became angry when she allegedly did not reply to his texts.

After the attack, he then sent her text messages threatening to “kick the baby” out of her.

The victim, who was eight weeks pregnant, suffered a fractured leg after Dennis attacked her with a walking stick.

Dennis then stopped his girlfriend from getting medical treatment for 12 hours before telling her to lie about the cause of her injury, Wood Green Crown Court was told.

In the weeks following the attack, Dennis, of St Thomas Road, Islington, sent his girlfriend a series of threatening messages, with one stating he would “kick the baby” out of her.

Dennis was charged in January and admitted grievous bodily harm at last minute on the day his trial was due to begin at Wood Green Crown Court.

He was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday and a restraining order was also imposed preventing him from contacting the victim both directly and indirectly.

Detective Constable Mark Longley, from Hackney Community Safety Unit, said: “Dennis attacked his girlfriend in her own home with a weapon. She was pregnant with his child and unable to defend herself. It was a vicious assault which caused an appalling injury. He then left her in agony for some 12 hours as he prevented her obtaining medical assistance.

“It was only weeks later – with the encouragement and support of her foster family – that she felt able to report the matter to the police and this set in motion the investigation which has concluded this afternoon.

“I am pleased to say that the victim has physically recovered and that her unborn child was unharmed during the incident. This child is due in several weeks and I wish the mother well as she begins a new chapter of her life. Dennis has been rightly sentenced to a custodial sentence which should protect both the victim and other women from his abuse for the next few years.”

DC Mark Longley was the officer in charge of the investigation.