A MAN allegedly punched and stamped on the head of an eight-and-half-months pregnant woman, the High Court has heard.
Thomas Pearce (31) is also accused of drunkenly trying to trail her by the hair back into her home in Newry last weekend.
Police were alerted by the alleged victim's eight year-old son, a judge was told.
Details emerged as Pearce, of Dromore Street in Banbridge, Co Down, was refused bail.
He is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.
Pearce also faces further counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to a neighbour, possessing cannabis, assault on police and breaching a violent offences prevention order by being drunk at the scene.
Police were called to Hillside Court in the city in the early hours of September 23.
A Crown lawyer said the child reported that his eight and-a-half-months pregnant mother and a woman who lives next door were both being attacked by a man named Tom.
Referring to the alleged attack on the expectant woman, the prosecutor submitted: "There were punches, stamping on her head, grabbing her hair and smashing her head into the ground.
"He also attempted to drag her by the hair back into the home address."
Pearce also shouted obscenities at the woman during an assault which inflicted facial and body injuries, it was claimed.
According to the prosecution he knew her through his sister and may have been attempting to form a relationship.
The neighbour was also pushed to the ground when she tried to intervene, the barrister alleged.
Defence counsel Mark Farrell pointed out that the pregnant woman has not yet made a statement of complaint.
Describing the alleged attack as "horrific and barbaric", he argued that there may not be the evidence to sustain a case.
But Lord Justice Gillen responded that another witness has provided an account before denying bail.
