Man sent back to prison after beating a 7-month-pregnant woman

The man appeared in the Whanganui District Court.

A Whanganui man who breached his release conditions to beat up a seven-month-pregnant woman has been sent back to prison.

Juan Cyril Broughton, 40, pleaded guilty to charges of male assaults female, wilful damage, threatening to kill and a breach of release when he appeared in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

Broughton was not long freed from prison when he broke his release conditions by turning up at his ex-partner's address intoxicated on August 1.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Drew Morrison said a verbal altercation occurred between Broughton and the victim.

"The defendant approached the victim in the kitchen and punched her in the face with a closed fist.

"The victim did not react to the assault as she did not want to inflame the situation and continued chores in the household," Morrison said.

As the victim was bending over to get clothing in the laundry, Morrison said, the defendant punched her in the back of the head.

More violence followed leaving the woman with sustained tenderness and swelling to her face and head area.

On July 13, Broughton threatened to kill his mother who has since moved to the South Island in fear for her safety.

The police summary of facts stated that he said to his mum: "I'll f***ing knock you out" and "I'll f***ing kill you".

And on July 16, he was at his ex-partner's house when he became violent, and threw a handful of stones at the victim's house, breaking one of the window panes.

"The defendant removed the victim's cellphone from his pocket and threw it on to the concrete footpath smashing it into pieces, stating 'ha ha, look what I've got'," the summary of facts stated.

Judge Dugald Matheson sentenced Broughton to 10 months' imprisonment and ordered him to pay reparation on the wilful damage. Broughton was also ordered to complete a number of rehabilitation programmes.