By Grimsby man holds pregnant girlfriend at knife-point
A Grimsby man has appeared in court following an incident where he held his girlfriend at knife-point after she told him she was pregnant.
According to his then partner, Michael Black, 30, is said to have initially responded to the announcement with excitement.
But he is said to have grown increasingly paranoid and aggressive, before turning violent on May 29 2019.
Appearing at Grimsby Crown Court, Rachel Scott, prosecuting, said that Black accused the woman’s family of interfering in their relationship, before grabbing and telling her “I don’t believe you’re pregnant and if you are it’s not mine.”
He then forced her to enter several shops in order to obtain a pregnancy test.
Ms Scott continued:
“When she tried to stop walking he made her continue.
“He then went into a front garden and pulled out from a recycling bin a glass bottle. He smashed it and said, ‘I’m going to stick this in your dad’s neck. He takes the p*** out of me and you.’
“He kept hold of the bottle, but put it in his pocket when the couple were in another shop.”
When the first of three pregnancy tests returned a positive result, Black ordered her to take the remaining two at knife-point.
During the altercation, he is said to have threatened the woman with a stabbing motion, as well as stabbing the kitchen worktops and doors.
The incident was reported to the police two days later.
Black, who has three previous convictions including one for assault, was arrested and ordered to obey a non-molestation order prior to sentencing.
Via a witness statement, the victim told the court that she is “not sleeping and if I am I have nightmares. I just want it all to stop,” adding that she now suffers severe anxiety and depression.
Two psychiatric reports suggested Michael Black has autism and a lack of emotional maturity which might have made it difficult for him to deal with the prospect of fatherhood.
Michael Black has now been jailed for 15 months.
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