A HEAVILY pregnant woman who racially abused a doctor and his wife has been spared jail to give her unborn baby a chance in life.

Kirsty Thomson, 20, who is due to give birth in six weeks, launched a tirade of abuse at the couple after downing 24 cans of lager and asking them for a light as the couple walked past a bus stop.

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Her accomplices, Karl Hoffman, 25, and Jason Knapp, 19, then began threatening the pair while Thomson punched the woman in the face, smashing her glasses.

Knapp and Hoffman, who is the father of Thomson’s unborn child, then jumped in and punched the doctor to the floor.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the trio, who all have a catalogue of previous convictions, were arrested after being identified by a couple of joggers.

Andy Houston, defending Thomson, of Shirley Towers, Shirley, said his client had started committing crime aged 11 and had suffered from learning difficulties and bullying. He said the fact she was pregnant and her offending had “slowed” gave cause for hope.

Barnaby Shaw, defending Hoffman, of Taranto Road, Lordshill, said his client was diagnosed with ADHD aged five and had become addicted to Stella lager – both of which made him “violent and aggressive”.

He said Hoffman now had a goal, in becoming a father and taking responsibility for his life.

Charles Thomas, defending Knapp, of West Rivers House, Bridport, Dorset, said his client had “an appalling record” and had been drunk at the time of this incident. He also had a drink problem.

Now, 18 months after the incident, which happened in August 2007 near Town Quay in Southampton, the three have each received 12-month jail terms.

However, Judge John Boggis QC said that, against his “better judgement”, he would suspend Thomson’s term. He told Thomson it had been “an agonising decision”

but he had decided to suspend her sentence “not because you deserve it but because your unborn child deserves it”.