A 22-YEAR-OLD man who flew into a jealous rage told his pregnant partner he was going to ‘get that baby out of you’ before punching her in the stomach.

Blackburn magistrates heard the couple ended up having a Facebook exchange even though they were in the same house.

And she used the social network to ask a friend to contact police when she gleaned from his messages that he was becoming angry again.

Brendan Luke Webster, of Clarence Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting Beth Brindle and damaging her mobile phone. The case was adjourned for a hearing when evidence will be called to establish the facts.

Claire Grant, prosecuting, said Webster had become aware of the pregnancy at a time when the couple were separated and this had caused tensions.

On the day of the assault he came home in drink and she had left the bedroom and was downstairs watching a film on her laptop.

“He came down, suspicious about what she was doing and she describes him as ‘going mad’, said Mrs Grant. “He smashed her phone and then made the comment about her baby.”

She said Webster punched Miss Brindle to the head and then tried to punch her in the stomach. A third bunch connected with the side of the stomach and because of the assault she had a panic attack.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said there was doubt about the parentage of the unborn child and the “spectre” of another man was hanging over the relationship.

“He claims that when he went downstairs she was using her phone and when he took it off her there was a text message from the man he viewed as his love rival,” said Mr Church-Taylor.

“He accepts forcing her back onto the bed but denies punching her.”