Partner attacked woman at the wheel of her car and left her terrified for her unborn child

A court heard how a woman feared for her unborn child when she was attacked by her partner. Matthew Rushton, 24, assaulted his partner on three separate occasions in Lancaster.

He strangled his partner, smashed her head off a while and attacked her while she was at the wheel of her car. Recorder Eric Lamb said there were “considerable tensions” in the relationship and the couple argued frequently.

Rushton slapped his partner and strangled her during a fight in July 2021. He left the house but banged her head against a wall as he went, Lancs Live reports.

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In September the couple argued in the car. Rushton grabbed his partner while she was driving and "punched her all over" - but not in her stomach, Recorder Lamb said.

His partner stopped the car and Rushton got out but when she followed him in the vehicle he thought he was going to be run over. He got back into the car and started hitting and slapping his partner, while she returned blows, Preston Crown Court heard.

Rushton's partner, who was pregnant at the time, said she was scared for their unborn child - but Rushton pleaded guilty to ABH on the basis he did not hit her abdomen. In August the couple were arguing when Rushton grabbed his partner by the throat and threw her on the sofa. He punched her to the cheek causing redness and swelling.

Recorder Lamb said: "Domestic violence represents a violation of the trust and security that normally exists between people of an intimate or family relationship." He said Rushton had nine previous convictions, including violent offences, but no previous history of violence against partners.

Rushton pleaded guilty to two counts