Cage fighter who stabbed ex to abort child jailed for 19 years (6 November 2014)

A cage fighter who repeatedly stabbed his pregnant girlfriend has been jailed for 19 years by a judge at Hull Crown Court.

The Daily Mail reports that professional cage fighter Nicholas Leaning, 28, from Scunthorpe, stabbed Lauren Oliver five times in the stomach in an attempt to make her miscarry their child. He was wearing his cage fighting mask at the time of the attack, the jury heard.

The attack on 11 June took place after Ms Oliver had returned to her home in Belton, Leicestershire, after taking her six-year-old daughter to school.

Leaning attacked Ms Oliver as she opened the door to their home, plunging a knife into her stomach. He then stabbed her several times as she lay on the floor. At the time of the attack, Ms Oliver was seven months pregnant.

The court heard that, after Ms Oliver fell pregnant, Leaning began suggesting to others that the child was not his and he had not had sexual relations with Ms Oliver for some time.

The couple had a two-year relationship but had separated in November 2013 and Leaning resumed a relationship with another ex-partner known as Lindsay – with whom he also had a child. However, after they separated, Ms Oliver discovered she was pregnant with his child.

The prosecution told the jury:

“He had been seeing both of these women for some time and they discovered this among themselves. Lauren had become pregnant.

“When the defendant learned of the pregnancy, he had tried to persuade her to have an abortion – and when she said she didn't want to, he became angry and said he didn't want to have anything to do with the child.

“He began to indicate to others that the child wasn't his and he hadn't been sleeping with Lauren for some time.

“Lauren and Lindsay had been in touch with each other and had been on friendly terms and arranged a DNA test to determine who was the father.

“He said he would not participate in such a test, so Lindsay said she would allow DNA from their child to be used.”


After the attack, Ms Oliver was rushed to hospital and Leaning fled the scene. He was arrested an hour later at his home. Their daughter was born by Caesarean section hours after Ms Oliver had been stabbed. The court heard that the baby is healthy, despite the knife attack on her mother. However, in a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Oliver said that the attack had changed everything about her life, making her scared while at home and suffering problems with eating and sleeping.

The jury found Leaning guilty of attempted child destruction and wounding with intent – but cleared him of another charge of attempted murder. Judge Jeremy Richardson QC described Leaning as “a ticking time bomb”.

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a firm of specialist domestic violence solicitors and can advise victims of domestic violence on their rights under the law, including domestic violence involving child-parent abuse, abuse of elderly relatives or abuse between same sex partners.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading provider of Legal Aid solicitors and can advise on domestic violence matters under UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on domestic violence, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors Helpline in confidence on 07920 077054.