UK A TV STAR sentenced in his absence for beating up his pregnant girlfriend handed himself in to Ashton police station. But Craig Fitzpatrick – famed for his role as ‘bad lad’ Lewis Seddon in the BBC drama Waterloo Road – had to spend the night in the cells on Friday night as he was also wanted by Manchester magistrates for breaching a court order.
The 21 year old went to Ashton police station voluntarily on Friday morning and appeared at Tameside Magistrates’ Court the same day. He pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail.
Defending, Jane Mack said he had failed to appear at court because of ‘family problems’.
The court heard how he twice assaulted ex-girlfriend Julie Owens after going to her flat in Poplar Court, Audenshaw in the early hours of 23 August last year.
Prosector Rebecca Slate said Fitzpatrick accused Ms Owens, who was seven months pregnant at the time, of seeing someone else. He slapped her four times around the face. She begged him to stop hitting her,” she said.
He was convicted in his absence on 21 April and a warrant issued for his arrest.
She added that Fitzpatrick had 12 previous convictions for 23 offences – one for another offence of common assault against Ms Owens in October 2007.
Ms Owens, who was in court on Friday, said in a victim statement: “He made me feel scared for my safety and that of my unborn child.”
Fitzpatrick was given bail on condition he lived and slept at Gainsborough Road, Blackpool, reported to police twice a week and did not enter Tameside except to attend court or see his solicitor.
He will return to court for sentencing on 19 May.
Producers for Waterloo Road say his contract has not been renewed.
