Brannon Lyttle, 21, from Shane Road in Sixmilecross, Tyrone, appeared at Strabane Magistrates Court charged with 33 offences against his pregnant partner. The charges cover dates from October 16 to April 14. They include eight counts of strangulation, 10 assaults, five of threatening or abusive behaviour, two of false imprisonment, one attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm, one threat to kill, and one of furious driving.

A detective constable told the court the charges relate to connected incidents. Lyttle's partner reported an event involving their 13-week-old baby in his car. He took her phone, used verbal abuse, then drove at her after she exited, striking her legs and throwing her into a hedge.

She described further abuse starting last year with him breaking her phone. This led to physical attacks, including lying on her with a hand on her throat and using body weight for pressure. He sent repeated abusive texts accusing her of an affair and demanding phone access.

On one drive, his aggression caused the car to slide into a wall and hit an electric gate. His mother then took the pregnant woman to hospital, but Lyttle tried to climb over his mother and pushed the woman's head against the window.

A week later, he blocked her from leaving the house and controlled her phone. She contacted a relative after he slept and went into labour soon after, requiring an emergency caesarean.

Post-birth incidents included him placing hands on her throat and pressing a baby bottle lid into her face while she recovered with limited mobility. Her wound became inflamed. He strangled her again, stopping briefly when her mother entered, then resuming and telling her to stay quiet.

In another case, he put fingers in her mouth, punched her head, dragged her, wrapped a towel around his fist to punch her face, slammed her head on a wall, placed her in a headlock, and punched her after finding her recording him. He threatened to throw her from the moving car and stage it as suicide.

Lyttle has no prior convictions. His solicitor requested bail with conditions. District Judge Alana McSorley denied it due to the number of serious allegations and risk after the birth. Lyttle remains in custody and will appear by video-link on May 6.