” The defendant hopes for a reconciliation with his partner…”

And why not? He sure sounds like a keeper for some lucky girl, no?

The court was told the defendant and victim started a relationship in May and she was about 10 weeks pregnant at the time. The pregnancy was unplanned and the night before the incident, she decided to keep the child.

The defendant was upset but decided to support his partner. They went out in his van and she would say he tended to show off and drove fast. Ruane kept jerking the steering wheel and she said repeatedly: “Please stop, I’m pregnant.”

Prosecutor Andrew Robinson said Miss Truelove asked the defendant to stop because she wanted to get out. She opened the door, took off her seatbelt and was putting her left leg on the road when Ruane sped off. Miss Truelove fell onto the road and the rear passenger wheel ran over her right ankle.

She suffered a serious sprain and needed crutches. Ruane gave himself up to police about an hour and 20 minutes later.

Still, this won't be a prison romance, will it?

The defendant, of Walton Lane, Nelson, had no previous convictions. He received 17 weeks in detention, suspended for a year, with 200 hours unpaid work. He was also banned for 15 months and must pay £100 compensation and £85 costs.

I pity the child. What chance does it have?