A MAN who head-butted a heavily pregnant teenager a week before she gave birth has received a suspended jail term.

Jamie Richard Suttle, 23, lashed out in an argument over a PlayStation, Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

The victim, who was 16 or 17, didn't reveal what had happened to her until after she had given birth and a maternity ward nurse noticed bruises on her face.

She told the judge in a victim personal statement she now fears that Suttle will "make her life hell" and come after her following the end of the court case.

Suttle has previous convictions for assaulting and harassing women, the court heard. Miss Wadoodi said his partner at the time told police he had a controlling nature and objected to her using Facebook or being with her family.

York Crown Court heard that Suttle has been remanded in custody since he was charged in August.

"This incident really happened out of nothing," Recorder Tahir Khan QC told Suttle. He hoped Suttle's time behind bars had been spent reflecting on how he had behaved and how he should behave, and that the best way to protect the public was to order Suttle to do rehabilitation work.

Suttle, of Primrose Grove, Selby, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and was given a 16-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he does two years' supervision, goes on a rehabilitation course on how to form relationships with others and does 150 hours' unpaid work.

He was also barred indefinitely from contacting or going near the victim under a restraining order.

His barrister Glenn Parsons said: "His head is bowed with shame at the way he behaved. Not a day has gone by when he has not thought about this."

He said Suttle was immature and needed help in growing up and learning how to handle his emotions.

There was no suggestion that the head butt had had any effect on the victim's pregnancy. Mr Parsons said Suttle would face difficulties in his private life because of his actions.