'Shabby racist' jailed for attacking pregnant woman who lost baby
A man described as a "shabby racist" has been jailed for three and a half years for assaulting a pregnant Muslim woman who later had a miscarriage.
David Gallacher kicked Samsam Haji-Ali in the stomach repeatedly in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, on 6 August 2016.
He approached her in the car park of the Co-op on Water Eaton Road, after he verbally abused her inside the shop.
Gallacher racially abused her while she sat in the car, before kicking her in the stomach despite her shouting "I'm pregnant".
He then set upon her husband, hitting him across the head.
Prosecutor Christopher Wing said Gallacher told the expectant mother: "You come here with your clown outfit on, you f***ing people, you are the f***ing problem in this place".
The court heard when Mr Sulamain went to try and calm Gallacher, he was hit across the head with a wine bottle and bag of ice.
He received a four-inch cut, which later required stitches.
Ms Haji-Ali was left rolling around on the floor in agony. She miscarried a few weeks later.
Judge Sheridan said he would leave it to others to decide whether the crown needed medical evidence to prove the link between the attack and the miscarriage, or whether common sense was enough.
He said he was of the view that "the loss of that baby was a direct result of a kick to the stomach of a pregnant woman".
He directly addressed Gallacher as a "thug and a racist to boot".
Judge Sheridan said he had not awarded compensation in the case because he "simply could not put a price on the lost baby".
Gallacher appeared Aylesbury Crown Court, and spoke only to confirm his identity and plead guilty.
He admitted two counts of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and three counts of assaulting a police officer during his arrest on 14 September 14 2016.
He was jailed for three years and seven months for the race attacks, and four months for the officer assaults.
When arrested Gallacher was aggressive, spat at officers, and attempted to bite them, telling them he had Hepatitis B.
The court also heard when questioned by police, Gallacher claimed he was not a racist because he "taught himself Muslim" and speaks to members of the Muslim community.