A man who repeatedly struck his pregnant girlfriend with a baseball bat has been jailed for four months.

Anthony Coombs hit his partner several times around the thigh, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Coombs, 25, of Rylestone Gardens, Undercliffe, Bradford, was told by Judge James Goss QC yesterday: “Domestic violence is serious. You used this weapon upon her at a time when she was pregnant.

“There could have been drastic consequences.”

Judge Goss told Coombs that the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate in the case.

Coombs had pleaded not guilty to causing his partner actual bodily harm, but was convicted by a jury last month.

Prosecutor Louise Azmi told the court yesterday that the defendant had been given a community order last year for assaulting a police constable.

Judge Goss said it was clearly a volatile relationship. He said Coombs’ girlfriend suffered mental health problems, and was angry when Coombs came back that night and had the baseball bat in her possession.

The judge told Coombs: “You got it off her, but instead of just putting it down or getting rid of it, you decided to use it as a weapon on her. That was a very nasty offence.

“You do not help yourself with your attitude towards violence to women generally.

“There are indications you are quite prepared to use violence.”

Judge Goss said that Coombs had showed no remorse and the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence would suffice.

Coombs’ barrister, Nicholas Askins, said Coombs’ relationship with the woman was over, as far as the defendant was concerned He said there had been no contact between the pair since last November.

Mr Askins said Coombs had “next to no” contact with his children and that the woman intended to make that situation permanent.

The court she had a non-molestation order.

Mr Askins told the court the probation service pre-sentence report said the risk of Coombs re-offending was low.