A TORRENT of racist and threatening abuse by the partner of a mum-to-be led her to have the pregnancy terminated, a court heard.

Christopher Partington had been in a relationship with the woman for nine months when she suspected that he was being unfaithful, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The woman was eight weeks pregnant with Partington's child, but the court was told that after his mother died he became "possessive and suspicious" and abusive towards her.

The court heard that the abuse had such an impact that the woman decided to have an abortion, feeling she was unable to carry his baby.

When Partington was at her house, on March 26, the woman decided to look at his phone to investigate if her suspicions were true.

The court heard that a confrontation followed, with Partington screaming in the woman's face, and a scuffle causing reddening of her arms.

She discovered that Partington had been living with another woman, and she asked him to leave and went out with friends.

Partington then subjected the woman to a series of racist texts and voicemail messages over the next two days, in which he also threatened to stab her four-year-old son to death.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, she said she "didn't want a baby with a man who was capable of saying such horrible things".

She added: "I am worried for the safety of myself and my children."

The abuse continued for two days until Partington was arrested by police.

Despite this, the court heard that the woman has not sought a restraining order.

The court heard that Partington, aged 31, who has previous convictions for drug and violent offences, started offending after a number of tragic incidents in his teenage years.

In a short period of time aged about 15, two of his grandparents died, he was stabbed and he was a passenger in a car involved in a fatal crash, the court was told.

Partington's mother died around the time of the offence, which he said contributed to his state of mind.

But the court heard that Partington shows "genuine remorse" for his actions.

Partington, aged 31, of Captains Fold Road, Little Hulton, previously pleaded guilty to one count of racially aggravated behaviour.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Addressing Partington, Judge Graeme Smith said: "You sent a number of text messages and voicemail messages.

"They featured some of the most offensive language imaginable, in particular referring to her race."

Partington's father and girlfriend, who the court was told is standing by him, were in the public gallery to hear the judge pass sentence.