A killer who describes himself as an "animal" violently attacked his pregnant girlfriend in a park before abandoning her.
Luke Woods punched Lauren Jackson in the face following an argument despite her being 30 weeks pregnant near to Fosters Park in St Helens, Merseyside, in December last year.
Woods, 22, was previously locked up after killing pensioner Len Saunders in a vicious and unprovoked attack in 2017, causing serious head injuries with one forceful punch, Liverpool Echo reports.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday that Woods, of Billinge Crescent, St. Helens, had tried to contact girlfriend Lauren a "significant number" of times by phone while she was celebrating her sister's birthday on December 6 last year.
The pair argued over the phone, prosecutor Jonathan Rogers told the court, and Lauren "eventually relented" and met with her boyfriend near to Fosters Park in St Helens.
It was there where Woods punched Lauren in the face "without warning", knocking her to the ground.
When she eventually got up, Woods was nowhere to be seen.
Lauren returned to her sister's home and was taken to hospital after suffering a 2cm laceration to her upper lip.
She required stitches to the injury and has been left with a facial scar which may need plastic surgery to be corrected.
The court heard Woods, described as "controlling and manipulative", was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 after the drunken teenager "snuffed out" the life of community hero Len Saunders with a single punch.
Then aged 17, he was sent to a young offenders’ institute for four years and four months after pleading guilty to the killing of the much loved 65-year-old charity volunteer in an unprovoked attack .
Woods approached the stranger and asked him for a cigarette before delivering the lethal blow, which instantly knocked him to the floor and caused him to hit his head on the road.
Mr Saunders died in hospital nine days after suffering severe head injuries.
Louise McCloskey, defending, told the court that Woods has an "impulsivity and an inability to control his emotions".
She added: "Addressing these difficulties is something which needs to happen. He has expressed genuine remorse.
"He has concerning antecedents in his history and comes before the court in a case in which a single blow caused serious injury to someone he has been in a relationship with. He is doing what he can to recognise the problems he has and trying to address them.
"While in custody, he intends to become a better person. He wants to be not just a father who is in his child's life, but a positive role model.
"The prospect of becoming a father for the first time has forced reflection on him and a willingness to change. He shows some hope."
Woods previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and on Friday was jailed for two years.
Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey KC said: "Your impulsivity and the fact you are unable to control your emotions meant that you did precisely what you did. There was a disagreement - it matters not what that disagreement was - and you punched your victim in the face once only.
"But that resulted in her falling to the ground and sustaining what can only be described as a nasty injury which may require some plastic surgery. You do not expect to receive any mercy and describe yourself as acting like an animal - that is an apt description.
"It is apparent that, since you have been remanded into custody, you are realising that you have these issues and you must do something about them.
"Had it not been for this insight into your offending, the court would have been minded to impose an indeterminate sentence - but the court has come to the conclusion that it can stand back from imposing such a sentence."
