A court was told Deborah Chapman suffered broken bones in the attack and now struggles to carry her own baby after the drunken thugs set about her like a "pack of animals".

Robert Cape and Christopher Clark, both 19, and a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, punched, kicked and bit Miss Chapman until she was unconscious, with fractured bones in her vertebrae, on January 20.

A crown court heard how the violence started because the 19-year-old mum had texted her ex-partner – the father of her one-year-old baby – to thank him for the Christmas present he sent their son.

This made her partner Cape, of Norham Avenue South, South Shields, accuse her of sleeping with him, and resulted in the horrific attack.

As she fell to the floor, the 16-year-old, from South Shields, started to kick her.

After the beating, during which her windows were broken and a fire pulled off her living room wall, the teenager managed to stagger, semi-conscious, to her sister's home and raise the alarm.

When her mother got to the scene, she thought her daughter was dead.
Miss Chapman was taken to hospital with a bite mark to her nose, bruising to her face, neck and back, a puncture wound to her mouth, and fractures to her back.

Even now, almost nine months after the incident, she struggles to carry her child because of her injuries.

Prosecutor Michael Graham told Newcastle Crown Court: "She had sent her ex-partner a message, thanking him for their son's presents.

"The 16-year-old took exception to that, and Cape accused her of sleeping with her ex.

"Deborah said that was not true, but Cape grabbed hold of her with both hands, holding her head towards him, and she was not able to pull away.

"She was punched to the face by Clark, and when she fell to the floor, the 16-year-old started to kick her.

"She rolled in an effort to try to avoid the blows, but began to lose consciousness."

After the attack, Cape took Miss Chapman's mobile phones, stopping her calling for help.

The three eventually went to Miss Chapman's mother's house, and returned to the scene of the attack with her.

By that time, Miss Chapman had managed to stagger to her sister's house, but was still not fully conscious.

She was taken to hospital and detained for three days until she could walk again.
Clark, of Deckham Terrace, Gateshead, Cape, of Norham Avenue South, South Shields, and the 16-year-old all admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Defence barristers said the thugs were high on drink and possibly drugs at the time of the attack, and now feel genuine remorse for what happened. They accept their behaviour was disgraceful.

It was accepted Clark played a slightly lesser role in the violence than the other two.

Mr Recorder Christopher Batty sentenced Cape and the 16-year-old to 18 months' detention, and Clark to 12 months.

The judge said: "You set about her like a pack of animals in her own home, leaving her battered, bruised, humiliated and unconscious. She still can't even carry her own son."