Raised fists of defence drives father of one to strike heavily pregnant teen

“If you’re gonna raise your fists, be prepared to use them”: A Kangaroo Point man”s chilling words to his then heavily pregnant partner have been heard in court as he faced jail time.

A 24 year-old Kangaroo Point man punched his then pregnant partner in the face, after she raised her fists to defend herself in the bedroom.

Jayden Llwellyn Morton faced Beenleigh District Court on July 28 and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, having punched the woman in the lip at Woodridge on October 4, 2020.

Crown prosecutor Alex Vanenn said that on the date of offending, Morton was leaning over his former partner on the bed.

The woman, 19 at the time and 30 weeks pregnant, was treated for a bruised lip.

Jayden Llwellyn Morton leaving Beenleigh District Court after pleading guilty to assaulting his former partner, who was pregnant at the time.

Mr Vanenn said Morton had a daughter and was supported in court by his new partner and sister.

Defence lawyer Debra Wardle said Morton, a former Beenleigh State High School student, was working and no longer taking drugs, after smoking cannabis throughout high school and previously taking ice.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Craig Chowdhury quoted what Morton said to his former partner before striking her: “If you’re gonna raise your fists, be prepared to use them”.

Judge Chowdhury sentenced Mr Morton to six months imprisonment with parole after serving one day.

Judge Chowdhury deemed the one day he spent in custody time served under the sentence.