Man attacks pregnant girlfriend and then makes her believe it was all her fault

A controlling thug attacked his pregnant girlfriend and gaslighted her into thinking his rages and violence were her fault. Joshua Fregene, 31, has been locked up after the 25-year-old woman bravely told of her ordeal.

The couple, who had been together for a decade and lived in Trafford, would often argue but Fregene would then turn violent. On one occasion, when she was six months pregnant, he threw an object at her which hit her in the stomach.

After initially trying to 'diffuse' the situation he then poured water all over her. She was left with a black eye following another incident after raging Fregene punched her.

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He strangled her on another occasion, and also repeatedly punched her and threatened to slit her throat during another terrifying incident. Throughout the relationship Fregene would search her phone to check if she had been 'unfaithful'.

He smashed her phone up and later banned her from having one. Fregene also emotionally manipulated his victim.

He gaslighted her and tried to make her believe she was causing him 'misery and distress'. He sent her a suicide note and threatened to kill himself, and told her it was 'her fault that the children would grow up without a father'.

Fregene has now been sentenced to three years and one month in prison. After the hearing, Detective Ross Sidebottom of GMP’s Trafford District said: "Firstly of all, I want to acknowledge and commend the victim’s bravery for coming forward and speaking to us about the abuse Fregene inflicted upon her.

"The last few months has undoubtedly been such a distressing process for her and her loved ones and throughout this investigation and trial. Throughout the