Man jailed for 'vile' killing of his unborn child

A man who killed his unborn baby in an "utterly vile" attack has been jailed after being convicted of the rare charge of child destruction.

Stefan Marin attacked his then partner at his home in New George Street, Hull, in March 2025 after drinking with friends to celebrate his 19th birthday.

On Friday, he was handed a 20-year extended sentence following a trial at Hull Crown Court in October when a pathologist told the court the baby's death was caused by the attack.

Fighting through tears in an emotional statement to court, the victim told Marin: "You have taken an innocent life, not only that but your own flesh and blood. He didn't deserve this and neither did I."

Marin was found guilty of the child destruction after a trial lasting nine days – the first conviction of its kind secured by Humberside Police and only the fourth nationally in the past decade, according to the force.

He was also convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent, false imprisonment, intentional strangulation and perverting the course of justice, which were all linked to the incident.

Mr Justice Goss handed Marin a 20-year extended sentence, with a custodial period of 16 years and an extended licence period of four years, as he was deemed a "dangerous" offender.

During the trial, Marin's former girlfriend said she had been subjected to repeated punches and had tried to protect her stomach, but Marin kept removing her hands.

Passers-by found her covered in blood in a street, the court heard. She was able to identify her attacker before she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where an ultrasound failed to detect the baby's heartbeat.

Passing sentence, Goss said the offences were "not so serious as to justify a life sentence".

Mitigating factors included Marin's age, the fact he was an "isolated individual" and that he was recognised to have been a "victim of modern day slavery" as a child.

A destruction order was imposed for cannabis that had been seized from Marin and a restraining order was issued prohibiting him from contacting his former partner.

Reading out a victim impact statement, Marin's former girlfriend said the scars on her body were a "constant reminder" of the attack.

She said: "You didn't just hit me severely, you hit me to the point that I cannot believe I am alive."

She told the court she now had problems with her memory, her eardrum was still perforated and she may need surgery to relocate her jaw.

"I can heal from the bruises and the abuse, but what I will never heal from is what you did to my son," she said.

"I tried so hard that night to protect him."

The judge gave the BBC permission to report the domestic violence aspect of the case.

Edmund Hall, a senior crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said the "utterly vile" offence of child destruction was "extremely rare".

Targeting a "vulnerable" teenager and her unborn baby was "the lowest of the low", added Hall.

Marin had shown no remorse and "absolutely no empathy" throughout the case, he added.

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