A dad accused of battering his six-year-old daughter to death told his partner he was “disgusted” when he found out she was pregnant, a court heard.

Ben Butler, 36, had a history of violent outbursts and sent a string of abusive text messages to Jennie Gray, 35, after she fell pregnant and while she was in hospital for an abortion, a jury was told.

Mr Butler is on trial for allegedly murdering little Ellie at their home in Westover Close, Belmont, in October 2013.

BEN BUTLER TRIAL: Six-year-old Ellie 'suffered head trauma in weeks before death'

A jury at the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday that Ms Gray, who is also in the dock charged of child cruelty, accused her partner of running the family home like a “dictatorship”.

Text messages sent between the pair between January to March 2013, were read to the jury, which heard Butler claimed he was stuck in a “sexless relationship”. 

In a text to Ms Gray on January 16, 2013, Mr Butler said: “Im disg that ur preg again and think its irresponsible and shocking.. had engh of ur weight and looks..and the trble u bring.”

In another on March 8, Mr Butler threatened to end the couple’s relationship if Ms Gray ever “dare[d]” to fall pregnant again.

He added: “Im not putting up wiv this shut again.. F**king furious.”

Earlier on Tuesday, prosecutor Ben Fitzgerald had told the jury that Mr Butler had an explosive temper and outlined his previous convictions, including his arrest for injuring Ellie and for attacking his ex-girlfriend.

BEN BUTLER TRIAL: Dad 'hostile and aggressive' with police after death of six-year-old daughter

Ellie was taken to hospital in 2007, when she was seven-weeks-old, for serious head injuries, the court heard.

Mr Butler was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to his daughter after the prosecution argued he had shaken her, but his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in June 2010 after she fully recovered from her injuries.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “No court has determined how and in what circumstances the 2007 injuries were caused.” 

Ellie returned to live with Mr Butler and Ms Gray in November 2012, 11 months before her death. 

The jury also heard how Mr Butler had previous convictions for assault, including two against an ex-girlfriend, Hannah Hillman, in 2005. 

After leaving a nightclub in Croydon in August 2005 Butler pushed Ms Hillman to the ground in a car park, causing her to fall over and cut her her back and right arm. 

Butler sat on top of her and held her down and police arrived at the scene and found him “straddling” her, the court head. 

He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to common assault.

 Three months later, he again attacked Ms Hillman in Morden town centre and admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “Ms Hillman had facial injuries. She said he had punched her in the fact and kicked her. 

Mr Butler also attacked a stranger in Kingston-upon-Thames town centre after leaving a nightclub in April 2004, the court heard. 

He punched the man in the face, and later pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of using threatening words or behaviour.

 Mr Butler also attacked a man in a kebab shop in Wimbledon in June 2010, after claiming he had touched up his girlfriend and co-defendant, Jennie Gray.

Mr Butler later pleaded guilty to battery. 

BEN BUTLER TRIAL Six-year-old Ellie Butler's parents complained of being 'victimised' after Sutton school staff raised concerns about repeated absences

The court heard how Ms Gray, who is accused of child cruelty, told police she was “not afraid” of Mr Butler - despite abusive text messages.

 In a police interview in January 2014 Gray gave a statement which said: “I have not suffered violence from Ben Butler and am certainly not afraid of him. 

"The comments made by Ben in text messages, although not nice or a nice use of language, is at times how he articulates himself. 

“People that know Ben would also know this. In my opinion he does not mean what he says.” 

Ms Gray, who has previously admitted perverting the course of justice, denies one count of child cruelty. 

Mr Butler denies murder and child cruelty charges. 

The trial continues.