Nicholas Virgin sentenced for ‘disgraceful’ attack on pregnant girlfriend

DRUNKEN Nicholas Virgin pushed his pregnant girlfriend over and threw a beer can at her but has walked free from court.

The 27-year-old, of Parkend Walk, Sling, was told by a judge at Gloucester Crown Court that his behaviour towards Stephanie Russell was "absolutely disgraceful".

Ms Russell, who was three months pregnant with his baby at the time of the assault on December  15 last year, had alleged the attack was worse than Virgin admitted.

But the prosecution accepted Virgin's own version of events and did not proceed with charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

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Virgin  admitted common assault and was sentenced to a 12-month community order  and 80 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Nicholas O'Brien said Miss Russell's account of the incident was that after she had given Virgin a lift home from a Christmas party in Cheltenham, he demanded to be taken to Chepstow.

She refused and she claimed he then dragged her from the car, before getting into his own car and driving off, almost hitting her.

She claimed he then walked over to her and pulled her, making her fall to the ground.

He put his head in his hands, showing remorse, but then threw a can of alcohol at her, she claimed.

Ms Russell was treated by her doctor and the baby was not affected, added Mr O'Brien.

Dermot Clarke, defending, said Virgin had  pushed her over once.

He also accepted that he then threw down a can which hit her on the leg, said Mr Clarke,

If his version of events had been accepted from the start he would have been eligible for a police caution and would not even have been prosecuted, he said.