Rotherham thug bruised pregnant girlfriend’s stomach

Jonathan Cockram became aggressive and "started to cause trouble to her and passers-by" before he launched the first of two attacks, on July 4, last year.

When they returned to a friend's home he dragged her to the floor, and when she tried to get up he punched her in the face, prosecutor Charlotte Rimmer told Sheffield Crown Court, on Thursday.

"She managed to leave but the defendant pursued her, shouting, and followed her to their home address," she said.

Once inside he pushed her to the floor, dragged her around and punched her, again, in the face. Police were called and Cochrane was arrested.

His ex-partner was taken to Rotherham General Hospital and she was left with bruising and soft tissue injuries to her face, arms, stomach and back, and both legs.

Cockram told police she invited him around and claimed she tried to stab him with a screwdriver, the court heard.

Ms Rimmer said the attacks had a severe impact on Cockram's partner's mental health.

She added that Cockram has nine previous convictions, including an affray involving ten men, on Whitegate Walk, Rotherham, in July, 2017, when he was seen waving a plank of wood, bare-chested, and hitting a man who tried to break up the fight.

Rebecca Filletti, mitigating, said Cockram had been in custody since July 6, which was more than six months - and the equivalent of a one year sentence.

She said Cockram and his partner had suffered mentally following the deaths of their twin children, and their relationship had been "turbulent."

He had been sectioned after he tried to take his own life, she added, but had been making great progress since receiving the support of mental health professionals.

Cockram, 31, of Old School Lane, Catcliffe, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, before a trial on December 12.

Judge Sarah Wright sentenced him to 14 months, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend 25 rehabilitation days.

A five-year restraining order was also imposed.