An 18-year-old man who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend was handed 40 hours unpaid work but spared a fine by magistrates because he 'had baby clothes to buy.'

Jordan Blakely, of no fixed abode, admitted assaulting his girlfriend by beating her in Lowestoft, close to Tesco in Regent Road and later at home when he appeared at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court on Wednesday July 10.

His partner was ten weeks pregnant when the incident occurred on June 12, the court heard, and the couple were living together at the time.

Emma Wright, prosecuting, said it was a repeated assault over a period of time with no significant injury.

She said: "She (the victim) was in the company of the defendant as they went to Tesco and whilst walking there he said 'why do you always put me on a downer?'"

He then went on to push her into a wall and threw a lighter at her which missed.

He also pulled her hair and pulled her down on to her left side and ripped her coat. He then threatened to kill himself if she left him and began punching himself in the throat and head butting the floor.

A representative of the Probation Service addressed the court and said Blakely was "vulnerable" with a host of problems of his own.

"He does get upset and tearful and is very ashamed of himself," she said.

"He is extremely immature, he has been through the care system and has had a very difficult childhood."

The court heard he was currently sofa-surfing and hoped to rekindle the relationship with his girlfriend.

Sentencing him chairman of the bench Jane Bowles said: "You have a new little person on the way and you are going to be responsible.

"We would hope that you can reconcile with the child's mum and with the other mothers (hers and his).

"You need to start building these relationships. It might seem difficult but you are going to need them."

She ordered him to do 40 hours unpaid work and to pay an £85 victim surcharge but said there would be no fine "because you will have baby clothes to buy."