A woman who was repeatedly punched and slapped while pregnant has welcomed the jail term handed out to her attacker.
Jennifer McIlravey, 35, was jailed for nine months at Dundee Sheriff Court for attacking Chantelle Murray.
The assaults took place over a three-day period after McIlravey found out her own boyfriend, Roderick Cuthbert, was the father of Ms Murray’s baby.
Cuthbert, 37, was jailed for 15 months for repeatedly shouting, swearing and acting aggressively towards Ms Murray during the same three days.
Ms Murray moved into McIlravey and Cuthbert’s flat on Strathmartine Road on January 26. She was 10 weeks pregnant with Cuthbert’s baby.
Chantelle, 29, from Fintry, later went on to lose her baby.
Speaking of today’s sentencing, she said: “It is a complete relief — a big weight off my shoulders.
“I was worried they would get away with just a tag.
“I was at the courthouse but I chose not to go into the courtroom because I couldn’t bring myself to even see them.
“I am so glad that they are going to jail for it.
“I can get on with my life and try to put it behind me.”
Fiscal depute Alan Kempton told the court Ms Murray woke with bleeding the morning after moving into the flat.
She asked McIlravey for advice, telling her Cuthbert was the father. McIlravey “did not respond well” and threatened her with violence. Ms Murray left the flat with Cuthbert and went to Ninewells Hospital.
Doctors recommended she be admitted but Cuthbert insisted on taking her back to the flat, stealing medical supplies, including scalpels, while he was there.
When they returned home, McIlravey again threatened Ms Murray.
The fiscal said: “The next day, Ms Murray was slapped four or five times by McIlravey shortly after she got out of bed.
“She was also repeatedly punched on the head and body.
“On January 30, Ms Murray left the locus. She stood on the bath and sink and squeezed out of a window.”
Police attended and found a bypass on the electricity meter at the pair’s home.
Cuthbert admitted threatening behaviour between January 26 and 29, and stealing medical items on January 27. And he admitted damaging an electricity meter and stealing electricity between July 14 last year and January 29.
Sheriff Tom Hughes said: “You have an appalling record and there are no signs you are trying to change your ways.”
McIlravey admitted threatening behaviour and assaulting Chantelle Murray between January 26 and 29. Sheriff Hughes said: “You’ve pleaded guilty to an appalling offence, quite knowingly doing what you did.”
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