Man jailed after assaulting his pregnant girlfriend in Blackburn
A man who assaulted his pregnant partner before dragging her into a car and driving off has been jailed.
On the evening of November 27, the 19-year-old victim had been out for a meal with friends and at around 8.30pm had met defendant Joel Fricker.
Fricker immediately became confrontational and aggressive towards the victim and her friends and threatened to assault them and their boyfriends.
When the victim turned her back on him, Fricker assaulted her from behind without warning, knocking her to the ground. Fricker then dragged the screaming victim – who was six months pregnant at the time - into his car.
Concerned onlookers called the police and officers quickly located the victim in the company of 20-year-old Fricker close to her home address.
It was at that point she began vomiting blood. She was taken to hospital with significant injuries to her face and a bite mark to her arm (shown in the attached photographs).
Fricker, of Kingsbridge Court, Blackburn, was arrested on suspicion of assault. He provided no comment answers to all questions put to him in police interview.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on November 28 Fricker was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court the following morning. Due to the seriousness of the case, magistrates deemed their powers of punishment were insufficient and sent the case to the Crown Court.
Yesterday (December 22) Fricker appeared before a Judge at Preston Crown Court where he was sentenced to two years custody. A five-year restraining order was also put in place.
In an impact statement the victim said: “I don’t understand why he did this to me, but what’s more confusing is why he did this to my innocent unborn baby. I’ll never understand why, it’s something I’ll have to live with forever.”
DC Gemma Anderson, of East CID, said: “The spontaneous and cowardly attack Fricker launched on his heavily pregnant victim was utterly disgraceful and left onlookers both shocked and in fear for her safety.
“I am pleased Fricker has been given a custodial sentence as he is clearly somebody who presents a danger to women by the way he behaves towards them.
“I would like to praise the victim in this case for the bravery she has shown throughout this case. I can only image the fear felt when she was being assaulted and dragged into the car by a man she thought cared for her.
“I hope her bravery - in not only supporting a conviction but then also allowing her injury photographs to be shown to highlight the seriousness of Fricker’s offending - will encourage other victims of abuse to come forward. They can do so knowing they will be listened to, believed and that Lancashire Police will do everything in our power to keep them safe and bring the perpetrator to justice.”
Det Sgt Steve Munro, of East CID, said: “Violence towards women of any kind is completely unacceptable. This is a particularly nasty case, given the obvious vulnerability of the victim and the shocking nature of the attack.
“I too would like to praise the victim in this case for her bravery. I would also like to thank the officers involved in this case. From those who initially attended the scene and quickly located the victim and offender, to those who obtained the evidence and supported the victim and witnesses. Their combined efforts, as well as those from our CPS colleagues, have resulted in Fricker being held accountable for his appealing actions and righty sent to prison.”
Domestic abuse isn’t just physical – it can be emotional, physical, sexual, financial or controlling behaviour
It can also happen to anyone - regardless of their identified gender, sexuality or lifestyle
Help is available to you here in Lancashire
If you’re in an abusive relationship and need to talk to someone, when can find details of the support services in the county at www.noexcuseforabuse.co.uk
If you want to report a crime, but you are not in immediate danger, you can call the police on 101 or report online here: lancashire.police.uk/reportcrime
If you need the police in an emergency, please do not be afraid to dial 999 - they will help you and protect you from danger.