Sheffield man beat pregnant girlfriend in vicious attack and demanded that she 'wasn't having this baby'
A man brutally attacked his pregnant girlfriend in a ‘prolonged’ beating in which he said “we are not having this baby”.
Police had been called to Joshua Rhone’s address 13 separate times before he was finally arrested in September, 2025.
The 27-year-old from Sheffield was described at Sheffield Crown Court (March 25) as suffering from ‘mood swings’, going from happy and ‘excited for the future’ as he and his partner prepared to have their first child, but then changing and suffering with mental health issues.
Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, told the court that on September 19 things escalated, as he began telling his girlfriend - who The Star has chosen not to name - that they wouldn’t be having a child.
“It started in the kitchen - he told her to get rid of this kid,” Ms Hollis explained.
“He told her to go upstairs and followed her.”
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While she lay on the bed, Rhone proceeded to slap her around 10 times, causing his girlfriend a ‘momentary loss of hearing’.
He then pushed her off the bed, before following her into the bathroom, the court heard.
There he proceeded to assault her - slapping her, strangling her,and using a speaker to hit her over the head, which left a scar.
He is then said to have targeted her stomach saying ‘we are not having this baby’, the prosecuting barrister continued.
The victim was able to calm him down and the police were called.
The court was told that as the pair waited for officers to arrive, Rhone apologised, saying he could’ve killed his girlfriend - but then verbally abused her.
Rhone was arrested and provided ‘no comment’ to all questions, while his victim provided a statement and said that she thought he would kill her in the moment.
However, she subsequently withdrew her statement and asked for charges not to be brought, the court heard.
The Crown Prosecution Service nevertheless opted to prosecute, and Rhone pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.
At court, Rhone’s parents and grandmother sat in the public gallery throughout proceedings, while his victim - who is still pregnant and expecting to give birth to the defendant’s child in the next few weeks - waited outside the courtroom.
Offering mitigation, Rhone’s representative Francis Edusei said that his client is ‘obviously keen to be at the birth if possible’.
The defence barrister explained how Rhone had been employed as an Amazon driver prior to his arrest, and had no previous convictions, arguing that a suspended sentence with rehabilitation support and unpaid work would be suitable punishment.
He pointed to his family who had been offering support to him, and explained how Rhone had suffered with difficulties due to his mental health.
“He has been in custody for a number of months - he knows what will happen shall he revisit violent ways towards particularly his partner, or anyone else for this matter,” Mr Edusei added.
A letter from the victim was also shared with the judge, in which she asked for ‘mercy’ on Rhone's behalf.
When passing sentence, Recorder Janine Wolstenholme said that she had read ‘every word’ of the letter and considered it, however would ‘not make any adjustments’ to the sentence based off it, instead referring to the facts of the case.
She pointed out that the victim was vulnerable at the time, both pregnant and within her own home when what the judge described as the ‘prolonged and persistent assault’ took place.
However she did consider mitigating factors, saying to Rhone: “You have the benefit of a number of character references written by your family on your behalf.
“It’s quite clear there is a different side to you and you have had your difficulties.”
She sentenced Rhone to 27 months’ imprisonment.
As the victim had not put a request forward, no restraining order was imposed.