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Ex police officer Matthew Cherry jailed for unborn baby attack Ex police officer Matthew Cherry jailed for unborn baby attack
(35 minutes later)
A former Dorset police officer has been jailed for 10 years for repeatedly punching his pregnant ex girlfriend in the abdomen to bring on a miscarriage.A former Dorset police officer has been jailed for 10 years for repeatedly punching his pregnant ex girlfriend in the abdomen to bring on a miscarriage.
Matthew Cherry, 35, attacked Caroline Craft, 27, at her flat in Bournemouth in 2011, as he did not want her to have his baby, Winchester Crown Court heard.Matthew Cherry, 35, attacked Caroline Craft, 27, at her flat in Bournemouth in 2011, as he did not want her to have his baby, Winchester Crown Court heard.
Cherry, formerly of Parkstone, Poole, had denied a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.Cherry, formerly of Parkstone, Poole, had denied a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Miss Craft later gave birth to a healthy boy, who is now 15 months old.Miss Craft later gave birth to a healthy boy, who is now 15 months old.
Miss Craft was six months pregnant when she answered the door of her ground-floor flat in Bournemouth, on 24 March, thinking it was an estate agent who had come to view her property. Miss Craft, a fellow police officer, was six months pregnant when she answered the door of her ground-floor flat in Bournemouth, on 24 March, thinking it was an estate agent who had come to view her property.
'Bloodied and bruised''Bloodied and bruised'
Cherry, wearing a balaclava and using a fake foreign accent, then carried out a "savage attack" on her, jurors heard.Cherry, wearing a balaclava and using a fake foreign accent, then carried out a "savage attack" on her, jurors heard.
He punched her in the stomach and back, targeting her unborn child and leaving her "bloodied and bruised".He punched her in the stomach and back, targeting her unborn child and leaving her "bloodied and bruised".
Cherry, who was angry Miss Craft, 27, would not have an abortion, had claimed in court he was not the attacker. Earlier in the trial, Matthew Jewell, prosecuting, said: "She pointed out valuable items in case this was a robbery or burglary but her attacker showed no interest in taking anything.
"She was dragged into the bathroom and forced to sit on the toilet.
"The male said he would tie her up. She was absolutely terrified about what was happening to her in her own home."
The attack only ended when the estate agent arrived.
Cherry fled, using a back door, as he knew the block well having owned the flat before selling it to Miss Craft.
'Ruined his life'
Cherry, who was angry Miss Craft would not have an abortion, had claimed in court he was not the attacker.
Jurors heard how he had earlier told Miss Craft and her flatmate Carla Hutchings that he had thought about punching her to cause a miscarriage.
He said the pregnancy had left him feeling trapped and had "ruined his life", the jury heard.
Cherry even discussed with a police colleague how to bring on a miscarriage.
He said he was renovating a house at the time of the attack, but this was rejected by the jury.He said he was renovating a house at the time of the attack, but this was rejected by the jury.
Cherry left the force after the attack.Cherry left the force after the attack.