He deliberately targeted her stomach despite her desperate attempts to protect her unborn child
Stefan Marin was convicted of child destruction, grievous bodily harm with intent, non-fatal strangulation, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice by a jury at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A violent thug who viciously attacked his pregnant 17-year-old girlfriend so hard that she lost her unborn baby after a prolonged and horrific beating has been locked up for 16 years after being branded a dangerous offender. Stefan Marin brutally punched, kicked and strangled the girl during a sadistic drink-fuelled attack on the day of his own birthday, leaving her with a broken nose and other serious injuries.
He deliberately targeted her stomach despite her desperate attempts to protect her unborn baby boy. Scans at hospital later revealed that her previously healthy unborn baby of 29 weeks had died, Hull Crown Court heard.
Marin, 19, of New George Street, Hull, but in custody on remand, denied an offence of child destruction on March 13 last year, involving assaulting the mother of an unborn child, with intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive, causing the baby to die before it could live independently of his mother. He was convicted by a jury after a 10-day trial held between October 6 and 17.
Marin also denied offences of causing grievous bodily harm to the girl with intent, intentional strangulation, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice by cleaning a crime scene and disposing of evidence, but he was also convicted of those. He admitted possessing three bags of cannabis at his home when he was arrested.
Marin, wearing a long-sleeved light blue shirt, showed no emotion after the custodial sentence was passed. He will be on extended licence of four years after his release from custody and he was given an indefinite restraining order. He had a Romanian-speaking interpreter with him in the secure dock.
High Court judge Mr Justice Goss said that it was a “prolonged episode lasting for about five hours” in which Marin repeatedly assaulted the teenager “very seriously”. He “booted” her in the back of her head and punched and kicked her.
She covered her stomach with her hands but Marin moved them and punched her there. “She thought she was going to die,” said Mr Justice Goss.
Marin filled a bath with hot water and pushed her head down into it. She later thought that she was going to die and kept blacking out. She eventually collapsed in the street before her grandmother arrived to collect her and took her to hospital.
The baby died in the young mother’s womb because of trauma to the placenta and he was born dead a few days later when labour was induced.
Marin had been drinking with his friends on his 19th birthday and he had taken cannabis. There was “inherent cruelty” in his behaviour.
Marin had previous convictions as a youth for assault causing actual bodily harm, assault, assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker and possessing cannabis in April 2022, criminal damage in July 2022 and assault and criminal damage in January 2023, all when he was aged 16. He had a conviction in June 2024 for assault when he was aged 18.
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Marin had been drinking and taking drugs before the attack, as part of celebrating his 19th birthday. He previous convictions for violence but there was “nothing approaching the level of seriousness here”.
He had suffered a difficult upbringing and he had, in the past, been forced to sell drugs. He had previously lived in Romania. “He is going to be in custody for some time,” said Mr Robinson. “The defendant understands that.”
After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Cross, who oversaw the investigation, said: “The level of violence inflicted on this young woman was beyond comprehension, and the tragic loss of her unborn son is something no one should ever have to endure.
“Marin’s actions were calculated and utterly inhumane. He showed no remorse at any stage of the investigation or court proceedings. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of what he did and the devastation he caused.
“This has been an incredibly challenging and complex investigation, and I want to recognise the courage of the now 18-year-old woman, who has shown remarkable strength throughout, with determination to see justice done for her baby boy.”
Officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Clare Midwood, said: “This has been one of the most distressing cases I have ever worked on. The bravery this young woman has shown, from the moment officers first found her, through months of recovery, and ultimately giving her evidence in court, has been extraordinary.
“No sentence can ever undo the pain she has suffered, but I hope today’s outcome provides some measure of justice for both her and her son.”
During the original trial, Mr Justice Goss agreed to allow the relationship at the time between Marin and the 17-year-old girl to be reported by the Press and media. This followed consideration by him of an application to vary the reporting restrictions.
The judge made a court order to confirm that the reporting of this aspect of the case would be permitted. The order was confirmed on the day of sentence.