A MAN who had not shown an “ounce of remorse” after beating up a pregnant woman is today serving 24 weeks in prison.

Jason Peter Conibere insulted the unborn baby’s father during the prolonged incident and had shown no indication that he was sorry since the attack last August, York Crown Court heard.

Brooke Morrison, prosecuting, told the court that following the assault, the victim moved home to get away from her 44-year-old attacker.

On the morning of August 13 last year, he pushed the woman over, shouted in her face and pulled her back and forward by her hair, the court was told.

He called her names and made “derogatory comments” about the baby’s father, said Ms Morrison.

Conibere continued the assault, despite the woman’s efforts to get away from him.

The victim suffered bruises to her leg and arm and a sore area on her head as a result of the attack.

The next day she had a panic attack that led to her going to accident and emergency, the court heard.

The baby was not harmed during the incident, said Ms Morrison.

Conibere, of Fordlands Crescent, Fulford, denied assault, but was convicted after a trial at York Magistrates' Court.

District judge Adrian Lower jailed him for 24 weeks.

He also made a five-year restraining order to protect the woman and ordered Conibere to pay £300 prosecution costs and a £128 statutory surcharge.

Conibere appealed the sentence to York Crown Court where his barrister Charlotte Noddings said his sentence should be suspended so he could care for his elderly and ailing parents.

She said his imprisonment “had a significant impact on not just one family member but two”.

Ms Noddings handed in a letter from Conibere’s mother which she said explained why he had to be home to help her and her husband. Conibere himself suffered from arthritis.

But the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, and two magistrates dismissed the appeal.

The judge said Conibere had not shown an “ounce of remorse” and the victim had had to give evidence.