Former policeman Matthew Cherry, jailed for beating up pregnant girlfriend, to appeal

Matthew Cherry Matthew Cherry

THE SOUTHAMPTON policeman jailed for attacking his pregnant ex-girlfriend in an attempt to destroy their unborn child has lodged an appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence.

Matthew James Cherry, who was as serving police officer in Dorset, was found guilty last month of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and jailed for 10 years.

The 35-year-old, of Wimpson Lane, Millbrook, broke down crying when the jury delivered their verdict.

The court heard Cherry wore a balaclava, hoodie and gloves when he attacked six-monthspregnant Caroline Craft in her flat in Norwich Avenue, Bournemouth, on March 24 last year.

Cherry punched her in the face, stomach and back between 20 and 30 times in an attempt to bring on the miscarriage of the baby he did not want, the jury were told.

Prosecutors said Cherry had tried to persuade fellow police officer Miss Craft to have an abortion, claiming he could not afford the child.

Miss Craft suffered extensive bruising following the attack but thankfully her unborn child was unharmed. She went on to have a healthy baby boy called Archie, who is now 16 months old.

Cherry had been working as a patrol officer in Poole for nine years when the attack on Miss Craft happened. He resigned from the police in November last year and was living in Wimpson Lane before he was jailed.

Sentencing him, Judge Keith Cutler said: “It was a pernicious and evil act on your part. There was a high degree of planning.

“It was clear you used your skills and training as a police officer to ensure your mobile phone was left to give yourself an alibi and to mask your appearance.”

Cherry’s application for leave to appeal his conviction and sentence will go before a single judge at the Court of Appeal at a date to be fixed.

Comments(13)

hulla baloo says...
9:52am Mon 15 Oct 12

Yup, let him appeal, and double the sentence. SCUM.

SFC1976 says...
11:40am Mon 15 Oct 12

What a brve man you are Your parents must be so proud. Scum Bag yet another waste of skin.

Taskforce 141 says...
12:23pm Mon 15 Oct 12

It was attempted murder so screw the appeal and hang the scum bag and save some of the tax payers money!

Taskforce 141 says...
12:23pm Mon 15 Oct 12

It was attempted murder so screw the appeal and hang the scum bag and save some of the tax payers money!

Subject48 says...
1:26pm Mon 15 Oct 12

As a copper hes not going to have a nice time in jail. Im sure he will get his just rewards there...

Over the Edge says...
2:33pm Mon 15 Oct 12

Subject48 wrote:
As a copper hes not going to have a nice time in jail. Im sure he will get his just rewards there...
As ex-old bill and a wife beater, he'll be on the rule, along with all the other bacon's.

The **** should stop whining and get and do his 5 years behind the door.

If they grant the scumbag leave to appeal I hope the appeal court gives him more.

cantthinkofone says...
5:23pm Mon 15 Oct 12

This would never happen under Sharia law.

wake up says...
7:54pm Mon 15 Oct 12

It's cowards like this that give other male species a bad name, i think it would be better for the judge who deals with this cowards appeal to remember that this coward tried to kill an unborn baby & also attacked a pregnant woman , just imagine how many other members of the police force have this brutal mentality , let this evil thug rot in prison where he belongs, in fact double this cowards sentence for trying to play the judicial system of appeals , what case of appeal does he have ? none , he tried to kill an unborn baby , end of

Taskforce 141 says...
9:01am Tue 16 Oct 12

cantthinkofone wrote:
This would never happen under Sharia law.
Do one!

we do not want nor need Sharia Law in this country, its bad enough that its in existence over a large part of the globe, we do not need it increasing!

Subject48 says...
10:25am Tue 16 Oct 12

@ canthinkofone.

Please explain.

Do you mean this would happen but no one would persecute him, or do you mean this would not happen in the first place?

If its the foremost, well, cant say I approve.

Fieldbean says...
11:18am Tue 16 Oct 12

There is always the possibility of miscarriage of justice and historically there are many many cases where convicted killers and criminals have been cleared on appeal. This man may yet walk free from court.

cantthinkofone says...
4:13pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Subject48 wrote:
@ canthinkofone.

Please explain.

Do you mean this would happen but no one would persecute him, or do you mean this would not happen in the first place?

If its the foremost, well, cant say I approve.
It wouldn't have happened in the first place.

yellowcard says...
11:22am Wed 17 Oct 12

cantthinkofone wrote:
Subject48 wrote:
@ canthinkofone.

Please explain.

Do you mean this would happen but no one would persecute him, or do you mean this would not happen in the first place?

If its the foremost, well, cant say I approve.
It wouldn't have happened in the first place.
no it wouldn't of because the women would of done what she was told. keep your law im happy with the British legal system.

click2find

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