Jailed for attack on pregnant ex

Dale Stanley admitted to assaulting Kay Hoofe and also breaching a non-molestation order in the process.

The 21-year-old thug, who was serving a suspended sentence, had been ordered by the court to stay away from a number of addresses and had been given a restraining order against Miss Hoofe after a previous attack in December.

However, this didn’t prevent him from approaching her at her mother’s home in May Street, Leigh on May 8.

Prosecutor Glenn Anderton told Wigan magistrates: “At 6.40pm, Miss Hoofe was visiting her mother when the defendant turned up. She described how he ran up to her at the front of the property and kicked her on the top of her leg.”

As part of his previous sentence, Stanley, of Maple Crescent, Leigh, had been ordered to stay away from May Street.

The court was told Miss Hoofe, who had only just come out of hospital and is pregnant, contacted the police and Stanley ran away.

Mr Anderton added: “He was arrested and interviewed and disputed that he had assaulted her, suggesting he was elsewhere with his sister.”

However, after that alibi fell through, he admitted to the attack and pleaded guilty in court.

Mr Anderton said Stanley was serving a 20-week prison sentence that had been suspended for 18 months.

Bill Pearson, defending, said: “Mr Stanley asks me to apologise in open court for his behaviour. His relationship is over and he finds that difficult to cope with. What he did was unforgivable and he accepts that entirely.

“I accept it’s a pretty distasteful event and we accept entirely he will be going into custody.

“He is going to have to find a way of growing up. If he wants to play any meaningful part in his child’s life he is going to have to find a way he can be trusted.”

The presiding magistrate activated Stanley’s suspended sentence for 16 weeks.

Further concurrent sentences of 10 weeks each for the assault and the non-molestation order breach were added on, bring the total to 26 weeks in prison.

Stanley’s restraining order against Miss Hoofe was extended to February 24, 2018 and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.