A teaching assistant who killed his unborn baby by repeatedly kicking and punching his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend has been jailed for life.

Father-to-be Kevin Wilson, 22, stamped on Malorie Bantala's stomach after failing to convince her to abort their child, claiming he was not ready for fatherhood.

Miss Bantala, also 22, was ambushed in a street in Peckham, south east London, by Wilson and a 17-year-old youth, both clad in motorcycle helmets, on June 15 last year.

The Old Bailey heard Wilson still refuses to admit guilt over the incident.

Victim: Malorie Bantala (pictured) lost her unborn baby after being ambushed in a street in south east London, by her ex-boyfriend Kevin Wilson and a 17-year-old youth. Wilson repeatedly stamped on her stomach

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been sentenced to 10 years detention with a further four years on extended licence.

While the mother-to-be was left with life-threatening injuries, her baby boy was delivered stillborn at Kings College Hospital by emergency Caesarean section just hours later at 32 weeks gestation.

Today Miss Bantala was present at the Old Bailey for the sentencing of Wilson and the youth after both were convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent and child destruction last year.

Tyrone Smith QC, for Wilson, said his client maintains his innocence.

Miss Bantala was attacked as she arrived home by two men emerging from bushes, one who she recognised as Wilson by his tracksuit.

Kevin Wilson (pictured), who killed his unborn baby by repeatedly kicking and punching his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend, has been jailed for life

On that day she had been buying decorations online for a baby shower she was holding at her friend's house.

Giving evidence, Wilson apologised to his ex-partner for his behaviour but claimed at the time of the attack he was 'napping' at home after a hard day's work at Octavia House School in Walworth, south London.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC reminded the court of the devastating impact on Miss Bantala who described her innocent son Joel as the 'real victim'.

Miss Bantala, who still bears the scars of the attack, said in a statement: 'The moment Joel died inside me I lost everything, literally. Life as I knew it no longer made sense.'

Mr Rees told of the psychological damage and how until she became pregnant again she would live with uncertainty, despite her womb being saved.

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

In mitigation, Tyrone Smith QC said Wilson had yet to accept the unanimous verdict of the jury last December.

He said his client presented a 'low risk' of committing future offences and there was 'nothing untoward' about the fact his current girlfriend had terminated a pregnancy.

Arguing for a determinate sentence, rather than life, he added: 'This was a chronic aberration on his part.

'On the jury verdict, he committed the most horrific offence but was otherwise a well-thought-of person.'

The attackers were caught on CCTV fleeing on the youth's scooter, running a red light in their haste to get back to the estate where Wilson lived, a mile-and-a-half away in Bermondsey

The trial had heard that on the day of the assault, the eight months pregnant Marks & Spencer worker had returned to her home at around 8pm.

As she approached her flat, Wilson and his accomplice emerged from nearby 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.

Giving evidence, Miss Bantala told jurors: 'I remember looking at him and then something clicked in my mind and I said "Oh s***, it's Kevin". He turned round and we made brief eye contact.

I had screamed "Kevin" for him to stop but he continued to kick my stomach. They were harsh kicks Malorie Bantala

'I didn't have time to think anything because by the time I knew it, I was on the floor.

'Kevin proceeded to kick my stomach, probably three or four times and then he stamped on my stomach twice.

'By then I had screamed "Kevin" for him to stop but he continued to kick my stomach. They were harsh kicks.'

Afterwards, she said Wilson had glanced back as she shouted out to him: 'Kevin, I'm going to kill you, watch!'

The attackers were caught on CCTV fleeing on the youth's scooter, running a red light in their haste to get back to the estate where Wilson lived, a mile-and-a-half away in Bermondsey.

Family and neighbours ran to Miss Bantala's aid. She immediately told police her child's father was responsible, saying: 'He doesn't want the baby.'

Wilson, 22, repeatedly stamped on the stomach of Malorie Bantala (pictured at the Old Bailey today) after failing to convince her to abort their child, claiming he was not ready for fatherhood

Miss Bantala was driven by police to King's College Hospital where she was treated for life-threatening internal bleeding.

As well as losing six litres of blood, she had broken two fingers in the hand she had used to try to shield her child.

The court heard how Miss Bantala had been in an on-off relationship with Wilson and had turned to him for comfort after the death of a nephew from sickle cell anaemia.

Miss Bantala decided to keep the baby, despite Wilson's repeated attempts to persuade her to have an abortion because he was not ready for fatherhood.

Wilson apologised for his behaviour as he told jurors: 'When I look back on it now, I could have behaved much better.'

By May, he said he had 'moved on' with another girlfriend and got her pregnant too, although she did not have the baby.

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.

The jury was not told that the 17-year-old defendant had himself become a father in August and was said by his lawyer to be 'very involved' with the child.

The youth has a string of previous convictions including a robbery during which a woman was punched.

As Miss Bantala approached her flat, Wilson and his accomplice emerged from nearby bushes where they had lain in wait disguised in crash helmets (pictured)

As the verdict was delivered in December, Miss Bantala became overcome with emotion and lashed out at Wilson in the dock saying: 'I hate you. Drop dead.'

She said her baby Joel would have been '100 times the man Kevin would ever be'.

Wilson, of Bermondsey, south east London, and the 17-year-old both denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and child destruction.