A SERIAL offender who started a fight on a train and threatened a pregnant woman will serve 20 months behind bars.

Conor Bassnet, of Halliday Close, Birchwood, appeared in Chester Crown Court after threatening to stab a pregnant woman and her baby.

On Monday, he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

The 24-year-old boarded a train at Padgate Station on June 24 which was travelling in the direction of Warrington.

The court heard how Bassnet saw a women and ran towards her and the male she was with.

Warrington Guardian:

Chester Crown Court

Derek Jones, prosecuting, described how Bassnet started throwing punches at the male and they began fighting.

The woman was pregnant and when the train guard tried to disperse the fight, Bassnet starting kicking out and said: "I'm going to stab you and your baby."

The court was told that Bassnet got off the train in Warrington but starting goading the male and female again.

He was arrested and charged for the offence and entered a late guilty plea.

Mr Jones explained how Bassnet was due to appear in Warrington Magistrates' court on August 15 but that morning police attended an address in Warrington acting on the suspicion that a domestic violence prevention order may have been breached.

A female police officer found Bassnet at the address and the court heard how he pushed her with two hands and barged into her, making her fall to the floor.

He was found guilty of failing to surrender, in his absence, and no other charges were brought before Warrington Magistrates' Court.

Basnett has 19 previous convictions for 30 offences.

Tony Rose, representing Bassnet, said he has had a very difficult family life but has now earned himself qualifications to be a cook and undergone various placements to get a job.

He stressed that Bassnet did not attend the previous court hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court as he was living in Liverpool at the time without any money.

Recorder Hilton, sentencing, said Bassnet was in breach of a 20 month suspended sentence order for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the possession of a tasar in September 2018.

His latest offences meant he had breached the order and Recorder Hilton saw no reason to not impose the sentence in full.