A “controlling” partner repeatedly punched a soft spot on his victim’s skull in attacks named “break the coconut” during years of abuse, a court heard.

The 38-year-old victim pleaded with her boyfriend to avoid damaging an area fractured in a childhood trauma, jurors were told.

But Marcin Jaskula, of Margate, would often “take a shot” at her skull in a campaign of abuse which could have killed her, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

The 44-year-old stands trial after denying engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour between 2015-2020.

“He gave it a name. What he called it was ‘the coconut’,” prosecutor Sophie Stannard said.

“And what he meant by this was that he would take a shot, or try to break the coconut.”

Speaking from behind a screen, Jaskula's ex partner told how she cracked her skull during an accident in a park, aged eight.

And she claimed Jaskula, who would also refer to his fists as “coconuts”, would direct his attacks towards the area.

“Sometimes he would punch my head because I told him I broke my skull before - the doctor said one hit and I could die,” she said.

“When I told him that, he punched my head more.”

When Miss Stannard asked what “coconut” meant she said: “It was his idea to call it that.”

“Those coconuts were really painful.”

“How often would he do coconuts to you?” the prosecutor asked.

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“Every day, I remember. Sometimes it was a warning coconut, not to forget he was here, a reminder not to be naughty because he’s here,” she said.

Jaskula would also throw knives, batteries and food towards her and physically restrain her from going to work in case she met another man, the court heard.

And Jaskula restricted the time she could go shopping, or on a school run, and break her mobile phones, the prosecution said.

In other violent episodes Jaskula threw her down the stairs, rubbed her face in the floor and stubbed a cigarette out on shoulder like it “was an ashtray,” Miss Stannard continued.

But Jaskula, also a Polish national who lives in Godwin Road, Cliftonville, denies the charge.

He will argue she “fabricated” the claims after she met another man, his lawyer James Burke said.

“The defendant accepts their relationship deteriorated over a four to five year period, and that he and the complainant argued a lot about a variety of issues, including drinking and partying with her friends.

“The defence’s case disputes that the defendant behaved in a controlling or coercive way towards the defendant,” he said.

The trial continues.