pregnant woman beaten for stealing

                                                       
A young mum-to-be known only as Ms Lu was tied up and savagely beaten in China because she was suspected of being a thief.

The shocking video of her beating emerged on social media in China, showing the pregnant woman tied to a pole with her hands behind her back.

In the video, she was conscious, and a man can be seen pulling her hair, while another kicks her in the face as she slumps to the ground.

The pregnant woman was subjected to the brutal assault because people in the village thought she was a habitual thief, reports suggest.

She is said to have been caught stealing in the past, and when she reappeared in the township again it was the last straw for residents.

A large crowd gathered to watch the medieval-style punishment melted out to Ms Lu without coming to her aid or rescuing her from the punishment.

A police statement confirmed that she had broken into the home of a man named as Mr Feng on August 18 and tried to steal 900 Yuan (30 thousand naira) cash.

She was caught on that occasion, but released because she is pregnant.

One villager said:

"This is not the first time she came to steal things from the village. "Last time she was let go but then she came back. "Otherwise she wouldn't have been beaten so brutally."

After the beating, an old woman can be seen checking if the alleged thief is alright. She was taken to hospital, but wasn't seriously hurt.

However, a man named Mr Yin is said to have started the beating. He was given eight days in jail and a 300 Yuan (£30) fine.