A man who brutally attacked his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend killing his unborn son, has been sentenced to life.

Kevin Wilson has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years and his 17-year-old accomplice was sentenced to 10 years in detention with a further four years on extended licence.

Teaching assistant Wilson, 22, claimed innocence despite being found guilty of child destruction and causing grievous bodily harm to Malorie Bantala on June 15 last year.

Wilson recruited 17-year-old Taffari Grant to help as he took matters into his own hands after Miss Bantala refused to have an abortion, the Old Bailey had heard.

Miss Bantala suffered life threatening injuries.

Sentencing, Judge Mark Lucraft QC told them theirs was "a cowardly, vile, callous attack".

On the day Miss Bantala was attacked, the eight months pregnant Marks & Spencer worker had been buying decorations for her baby shower, the trial heard.

As she returned to her flat in Peckham, south-east London, Wilson and Grant jumped from bushes where they had lain in wait disguised in crash helmets.

They launched a vicious attack, kicking and stamping on Miss Bantala's stomach as she lay curled up on the ground, desperately trying to protect her unborn child with one hand.

The following day Wilson was arrested the day after the assault while his accomplice was picked up weeks later.Both defendants denied they were at the scene of the attack, although the youth declined to give evidence.

Of her ex-lover who turned on her with such brutality, Miss Bantala said: "It was all about him and having the life he wanted."

Earlier, prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC reminded the court of the devastating impact on Miss Bantala, who described her innocent son Joel as the "real victim".