Pallion couple jailed after they both violently attacked pregnant woman who the man had cheated with

A Pallion couple have been put behind bars after they both violently attacked a pregnant woman who the man cheated with.

Lee McKitterick, 42, had entered a relationship with the woman while also having had a long term partner in Gemma McCabe.

Jealous McCabe, 37, went to the woman’s address on Nov 15 last year and decided to confront her about whether McKitterick was the father of her unborn child.

The victim, who was six months pregnant at the time, told her that he was not the dad and asked her to leave.

But a fight broke out and McCabe dragged her into the garden and threw her on the grass.

McKitterick, who had also gone to the address, decided to join in the assault and punched her right cheek.

McCabe, who still had hold of the pregnant woman, attempted to “knee her to the face” but the court heard her stomach was getting in the way.

The victim’s mother intervened and managed to free her.

The woman attended Sunderland Royal Hospital where she had ‘redness to her face’ and ‘clumps’ of hair pulled out.

She also had a small bruise to her inner right arm.The pair both pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that McCabe has 30 convictions for 58 offences.

McKitterick has 23 convictions for 32 offences.

Mr Recorder Walker told the pair that the victim was at a ‘high risk stage’ of her pregnancy.

He added: “She described not feeling safe in her own home.”

McCabe, 36, of St Lukes Road, Sunderland, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment.

McKitterick, of Oswald Street, Sunderland, received a 20 month custodial sentence