Telford man who left the mother of his children 'black and blue' in prolonged attack avoids prison

A court was told that Owen Leneveu launched a 'prolonged and persistent assault' after being set off by a row over the paternity of his third child with her.

It involved him threatening to hit her stomach to "beat the baby out" of her.

Leneveu, aged 21, of Willowfield, Telford, pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates Court in August 2024 to assaulting the woman causing actual bodily harm at her home in the town on December 27, 2023.

He also admitted causing £170 of criminal damage to a television, three doors and a lamp caused after he flew into a rage.

The judge at Leneveu's sentencing hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Wednesday was told that his victim had withdrawn her statements but the case had to be concluded.

Judge Anthony Lowe said his main consideration was to keep the mother and their children safe.

In handing down a 12 month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, he warned Leneveu that it is a serious case and if he offends again he will be sent down.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the woman had made allegations about his behaviour last year but had retracted them. She later wrote a letter to the judge asking for him to be lenient.

"Then after the incident on December 27 last year she asked, in January, for them to be reopened. Then in April she withdrew them.

"Some other defendants would have chanced their arm and pleaded not guilty."

She had earlier told investigators that Leneveu had "said he wanted to change but did not."

Mr Jones said that December 27 last year had started as a normal day. She was five weeks pregnant.

"He told her he thought the baby was not his and that it was somebody else's," he said.