The abuse must have taken place on several occasions between January and June this year. The 26-year-old was arrested on June 15 and has been in custody since June 18.

On one of the occasions when he is suspected of hitting and kicking the woman, she was in a bed where even the then newborn baby was lying. On an earlier occasion, he is suspected of having both beaten the woman and pushed her against a table. She was then heavily pregnant.

The man is also charged with minor drug offenses and minor weapon offenses.