I was forced to give birth to my dead son after jealous partner kicked me in the stomach – I missed a huge red flag

WHEN Isabelle Irish found out she was pregnant by her ex, just a week after she started dating again, her new partner vowed to stand by her. But seven months into the pregnancy, Asa Davison violently attacked her in a jealous rage – killing her baby. Tragically Isabelle, 30, was then forced to give birth to her dead son. Isabelle Irish was attacked by boyfriend Asa Davison whilst seven months pregnant Credit: True Life Stories Asa Davison’s jealousy over Isabelle’s ex-partner being the baby’s father drove him to violence Credit: BNPS Unbeknown to Isabelle, from Bournemouth, Davison had harboured resentment towards her and her unborn child as her ex-partner was the father. Davison kicked and punched Isabelle in the stomach and she was rushed to hospital where doctors couldn’t find her baby’s heartbeat. Sadly, Isabelle, who had a fractured eye socket and bruises across her abdomen, was then forced to give birth. Isabelle, a gardener, says: “Asa made me believe he was going to take care of me and my baby. “But he clearly resented us and he took matters into his own hands. “I refuse to let what happened that day define me and I just want to move forward.” Isabelle was unaware she was pregnant when she began dating Davison, in December 2019. Isabelle says: “We met through mutual friends. I’d never had a guy make me feel so special. “I couldn’t believe how well we connected too. I was smitten.” A week later, Isabelle noticed she’d put on weight and became concerned. Worried, Davison took her to the doctors, and they discovered she was two months pregnant. Isabelle says: “Asa and I had only been dating for a week and hadn’t slept together yet. “Which meant the baby was my ex’s. I felt so lost. “I didn’t want to bring a baby into a broken home and I wasn’t sure if I could do it. “But Asa held my hand and told me everything was going to be okay. “He said he’d be there for me and the baby. He promised to support us.” Soon after, Isabelle broke the news to her ex-partner but he didn’t want anything to do with his child. Isabelle says: “Asa told me he’d help with the baby and that we could move in with him. “As my belly grew larger, he cleaned and cooked for me every day. “He went with me to the doctors every time too.” The attack resulted in Isabelle having to give birth to her deceased child Credit: True Life Stories Isabelle was also left with a fractured eye socket and bruises on her abdomen Credit: True Life Stories But one afternoon, in March 2020, Davison took Isabelle to her five-month scan. Isabelle says: “Asa was fine at the appointment. “But when we got home, I caught him burning the ultrasound scan in a bonfire in the garden. “As I was so heavily pregnant, I decided not to confront him. I didn’t want to be stressed and harm the baby. “But I had a horrible feeling he wasn’t happy about me having the baby after all. I convinced myself it was a misunderstanding.” But after that, Davison became aggressive and controlling around the house. He began making jealous comments about the baby not being his and Isabelle became afraid of him. Months later, in May 2020, when Isabelle was seven months pregnant, Davison shoved her against a wall and shouted that the baby wasn’t his. Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse. Isabelle says: “Terrified, I escaped the house. My belly was huge so I waddled as fast as I could down the street. “But minutes later, I saw Asa cycling towards me on his bike in the dark. “He caught up with me and pushed his bike onto my stomach, trapping me. “In agony, I screamed at him to stop, before managing to lift the bike off my stomach. “I tried to run as fast as I could.” But shortly after, Davison grabbed Isabelle and dragged her across the road. Isabelle says: “I felt a hard thump on my stomach. I looked down and saw Asa punching me. “Then, his fist came flying towards my face. “He beat me repeatedly in the stomach until I blacked out. “When I next woke up, Asa was gone and there was a horrible, sharp pain in my stomach. “I felt something wet between my legs too. I had an awful feeling.” Isabelle managed to bang on someone’s door and they called the police. Minutes later, paramedics rushed to Isabelle’s aid, and she was blue-lighted to Salisbury District Hospital. Isabelle says: “There, a doctor sat me down and told me they couldn’t find a heartbeat. “I just nodded. I felt numb.” Sadly, Isabelle was rushed into theatre and she was forced to give birth to her dead baby. Isabelle says: “Still out of it, I began seeing a white light. I was so many pain killers. “I was still concussed from the blows to my head too. “After the final push, the doctor held up my baby. It was a boy. “They asked me if I wanted to hold him to say goodbye but I looked the other way. “I couldn’t bear the thought of it. I just wanted it all to be over.” Afterwards, Isabelle, who had a fractured eye socket and bruises on her abdomen that matched Asa’s fists, recovered in hospital. Two days later, Davison was found hiding at a friend’s house and was arrested. Isabelle says: “I couldn’t comprehend how he’d done this. I loved him. “During the next year, I suffered with nightmares and tremors, thinking about Asa. “I remembered how he’d burned the scan photo. I wished I’d listened to the signs.” In October 2021, Asa Davison, 38, of Gillingham, Dorset, was found guilty of one count of child destruction and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent at Bournemouth Crown Court. He was jailed for 12 years. Isabelle says: “In court, I expected him to look guilty and show remorse. But he was smug. “Seeing him again made me feel sick. I’m relieved he’s behind bars. “Looking back, he clearly resented me for having my ex’s baby. So he killed him. “Now, I am in a new relationship and I am trying to put this all behind me.”