Violent Ipswich ex headbutted partner's baby bump

Violent Ipswich ex headbutted partner's baby bump

A six-month-old baby boy survived a horrifying attack before he was even born, when his violent father attacked his mother while he was in the womb.  

Henley Boyd, now six months, looks the picture of health - a thriving tot with the world at his feet.

But, the outcome for little Henley, who will turn one on December 23 this year â€" a much-wanted 6lb 12oz Christmas baby for mum Tanya Boyd, now 35, could have been very different.

Because, shockingly, he was still in his mum's womb when his dad, her fiancé Matthew Kersey, then 34, of Ipswich, Suffolk, savagely beat her up when she was 25 weeks pregnant.

During an argument he smashed his head into Tanya's stomach during an hour-long attack, but thankfully Henley was unharm ed and Kersey was jailed for 20 weeks. 

Tanya Boyd, 35, with her ex partner Matthew Kersey who beat her when she was six months pregnant with their child 

Henley, with his big brother Harrison, is now six-months-old and thriving 

Kersey has previous convictions which would send a shudder down the spine of any prospective date when he started seeing Tanya in mid-2014 â€" while still in prison.

He was serving 32 months after robbing an Afghan veteran, leaving him unconscious.

Tanya knew this, but decided to write pen letters to him in jail and give him a chance because she truly believed he had changed â€" but sadly, she was wrong.

Now, she wants to help others find the strength to leave violent partners â€" and wishes that she, an intelligent, confident and funny single mum, had never got involved with him.

A relieved Tanya on the day she gave birth to her younger son Henley 

Henley, who was born by Caesarean section at Ipswich Hospital, is now a bouncing six-month-old baby 

She continued: 'I never thought in a million years he'd attack me when I was pregnant, but he did,' she said. 

Tanya added that a local teen had recently approached her and â€" after hearing about what happened with her and Kersey â€" told her she, too, was leaving her violent boyfriend.

She continued: 'It made me proud. Both women and men in violent relationships need to know that they should not stay.'

But at 37 weeks pregnant, shortly before Henley arrived via Caesarean section at Ipswich Hospital, she was forced to attend East Suffolk Magistrates' Court and watch the soon-to-be father of her child admit attacking her.

Tanya and Kersey at their engagement party, in summer 2016. The pair had dated briefly 20 years earlier and remained on friendly terms

She said it was the hardest day of her life â€" but dubbed Henley, who was born just a few weeks later, her 'Christmas miracle.'

Tanya, who now runs a bar but used to work as a bouncer, told how she initially met Kersey nearly 20 years ago.

They briefly dated but spilt up. However, they still saw each other around Ipswich and remained civil.

In November 2014, Kersey was part of a group of men who robbed a soldier, leaving him unconscious, in Ipswich.

Tanya with her newborn. She is now hoping to help other victims of domestic violence by speaking out

Described in court as being like 'a pack of wolves and a disgrace to his family and community', Kersey admitted robbery and assault and was jailed for 32 months.

Despite it being a crime, which shocked the UK, then-single mum Tanya started writing to Kersey in prison â€" eventually, in June 2016, becoming engaged to him.

'I thought he was remorseful,' she explained. 'He said he shouldn't have done it. I thought he wouldn't attack a woman.

'I thought he loved me, but if he loved me he wouldn't have treated me like this.'

Doting big brother Harrison on Christmas day, two days after Henley was born 

After he was released from jail in October 2014, Tanya and Kersey met up. She'd previously visited him twice in category C Wayland Prison in Norfolk.

She went on: 'He told me he was sorry for what he'd done. I can't believe I fell for it. I'm a strong woman, a bouncer, but I believed him when he told me he was remorseful.

'But now, of course, I wish I hadn't.'

By November, Tanya and Kersey became a couple although they did not live together. But, beneath the surface of their seemingly good relationship, there were tensions.

Their relationship continued and in 2015 they decided to try for a baby.

'He told me he wanted to start a family,' she said. 'So, I had my coil removed and around a year later I fell pregnant.'

It was an easy pregnancy for Tanya, also mum to Harrison, now nine, despite the fact she had to inject herself with a blood-thinning medication called Clexane following a blood clot she suffered on her lung in 2013.

At her 16-week scan, which she paid for privately, she learnt that she was having a boy.

'I was delighted,' she continued. 'Matt seemed pleased too.'

Tanya is now moving on with her life as a single mother to her two children 

Things continued and on September 18, 2016, Tanya got ready for work running her bar.

'Matt told me he was staying home, or might pop to his brother's barbeque,' she explained. 'But later that night, a customer who I knew, told me they'd seem him out in Ipswich with his brother.

Baby Henley was born just before Christmas and was allowed home in time to spend it with family 

'I didn't really understand. I wouldn't have stopped him going out, but I was annoyed he'd lied to me.'

Arriving home, Tanya found Kersey was asleep on the sofa.

She asked him why he'd lied about where he'd been â€" but instead of answering, he attacked her.

She recalled: 'He lunged at me. He grabbed me by the waist and knocked me down.

'Then he smashed his head into my stomach and I was so worried about the baby.

'I screamed at him, 'Don't make me miscarry.'

'Then he punched either side of a mattress with his fists going either side of my head.'

After punching an ironing board, Kersey pus hed Tanya against a canvas wall print before fleeing.

In total the attack lasted for an hour. 'It was terrifying,' said Tanya. 'I worried about my baby the entire time. I just wanted to get out.'

A few days later she confessed to the police what happened and around a week after the attack Kersey was arrested.

Tanya with Henley on the day he was born by planned Caesarean 

Then, on December 6 - the first day of his trial - Matthew Kersey, of Ipswich, Suffolk, admitted one count of assault by beating and one of criminal damage against Tanya.

A few weeks later she attended Ipswich Hospital where Kenley was safely delivered following a planned Caesarean, small but healthy and the pair were allowed home in time for Christmas.

'It was wonderful having my boy home on December 25,' his mum said. 'I spent Christmas with my mum Tina. She was a real support and cooked me a wonderful Christmas dinner.'

Baby Henley on the day he was born in December 2016 (left). Thankfully he suffered no ill effects after the attack 

Tanya said that Matt seemed to be pleased about her pregnancy. But at six months, they got into an argument and he headbutted her stomach. Right: Henley ready to go home for the first time, Christmas Eve 2016

Shockingly, in January this year, Kersey was jailed for just 20 weeks. He was given a two-year restraining order, banning him from contacting Tanya and also ordered to pay her £1,000 compensation.

'I was horrified,' said Tanya. 'My midwife had written a letter to the court explaining how it had affected me, so it was a blow.

'But, gradually, I am moving on. I survived and have lovely children. Now, if I can help other people, I will.'

 

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