A TEENAGER punched a heavily-pregnant young woman in the stomach during a bitter row about smoking in a Burnley nightclub’s doorway, a court heard.

Mother-to-be Amy Sessions ended up having an epileptic fit after the attack by Adrian Mulrooney outside The Loft, and had her baby by emergency caesarean section shortly afterwards, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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But prosecutors confirmed that the no “causal link” could be found between the violence, following an 18th birthday party at the venue in November 2014, and the baby’s birth.

Mulrooney, then 18, of Bivel Street, Burnley, admitted to a charge of common assault on Miss Sessions.

He had denied an offence of assaulting causing occasioning actual bodily harm.

He also pleaded guilty to an affray charge, which involved him going on to hit Miss Sessions’ sister Emma and their friend Stephanie Little during a fracas outside the club.

Passing sentence, Judge Ian Leeming QC, said it was a “disgraceful” incident, after being told that Mulrooney had already been spoken to by police about his behaviour, earlier the same night.

Mulrooney, now 20, who had previous convictions for dishonesty and assault, was given a 12-month community order, including being required to carry out 100 hours' community service.

Richard Archer, prosecuting, said Miss Sessions, who was 35-weeks pregnant, had attended an 18th birthday party celebration at The Loft when she went to leave with a friend.

The pair had approached Mulrooney and his friends, one of whom was said to have been smoking inside the doorway, prompting a challenge from the girls and abuse being received in response.

Mr Archer told the court said: “The next thing Miss Sessions recalled was the defendant hitting her to the side of the stomach and then to the side of the face.”

The court heard in the aftermath Mulrooney was struck by one of the victim’s friends and he in turn lashed out at Miss Sessions’ sister Emma and Miss Little. He hurled abuse at police as he was led away later.

And Miss Sessions, believing her waters had broken, was takenrushed to hospital, around the same time.

Judge Leeming said it was apparent the girl had suffered a “petit mal” seizure once there and the baby was delivered by C-section shortly afterwards.

But there was no “casual link” between the two events which could be proven.

Philip Holden, defending, told the courtsaid that his client, who had a number of problems associated with his own upbringing, had shown genuine remorse for what he had done.