A student has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly putting bleach in the drinking water of his pregnant girlfriend in an apparent attempt to harm her foetus.

Theophilous Washington, 20, of Washington DC, is a student at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Officials said he had been charged with attempt to commit first-degree murder of an unborn child as well as reckless endangerment.

“The charges are twisted and the intended result nothing short of horrifying,” District Attorney Craig Stedman said last week.

The university called it 'a horrible, unconscionable event' (Millersville University ) (Millersville University)

NBC reported that the prosecutors' office said Mr Washington and his girlfriend were at home last Friday morning when he suggested she drink some water from the refrigerator. The woman did so, but after she returned to her on-campus room, she felt a burning sensation in her throat. She vomited and called 911.

Prosecutors said police interviewed Mr Washington and they alleged that he acknowledged having put bleach in a water bottle.

“Washington, the father of the child, admitted to putting bleach in the water bottle,” prosecutors said. “He had stated previously that he did not want the female to have the child.”

A doctor examined the woman and said both she and her approximately two-month-old foetus appeared unharmed, the district attorney’s office said.

Brian Hazlett, Millersville University’s vice president of student affairs, called it “a horrible, unconscionable event”.

“It is very disturbing to me personally because I consider our students to be our family,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and we're doing everything we can to make sure she is O.K.”