An Ashburton farm contractor will spend eight years and three months in prison for bashing his pregnant ex-partner with a baseball bat.
Chris Buick, 32, cried as he was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday for brutally attacking his ex-partner in February who was 23 weeks pregnant.
He attacked her until the bat snapped, leaving her with a fractured skull, facial bruising and a broken eye socket.
The attack only ended when the victim lay on the ground pretending to be dead.
Buick pleaded guilty to the charged of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and faced a maximum of 14 years in prison.
The victim and Buick were in an on-off relationship after knowing each other for 10 years.
She says he attacked her repeatedly and ferociously without saying a word.
A victim impact statement was read to the court where the victim said, "I will be afraid of him for the rest of my life."
Buick says he is deeply remorseful for what he has done and realises it was completely the wrong thing to do.
The victim is still pregnant with the baby who is in good health.
Newshub.
