A MAN punched his pregnant partner in the stomach, a court heard.

Mekki Boufrah, of Herrick Close, Southampton, punched his victim during an attack on January 4 last year.

He denied assault by beating but was found guilty at the city magistrates’ court in October.

On January 8 he was committed to prison for 16 weeks, with the sentence suspended for 12 months. His victim did not support the prosecution case meaning a restraining order was not made.

Boufrah, 43, will be supervised for 12 months and must complete 17 days of rehabilitation. He has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122 and £620 in court costs.