A “controlling” partner who repeatedly punched a soft spot on his victim’s skull in attacks he named “break the coconut” has been found guilty of the abuse.

During years of attacks Marta Kosinska, 38, pleaded with her boyfriend to avoid damaging an area fractured in a childhood trauma, jurors were told.

But Marcin Jaskula, from Margate, would often “take a shot” at Miss Kosinska’s skull in a campaign of abuse where she "could die.”

The 44-year-old denied engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour between 2015-2020 during a trial at Canterbury Crown Court last week.

But jurors unanimously convicted the abuser at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday after deliberating for one hour and 48 minutes.

“He gave (the abuse) 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, Miss Kosinska 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 you could die,” she said.

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

When Miss Stannard asked what “coconut” meant Miss Kosinka 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.

“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 Miss Kosinska, 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 Miss Kosinska down the stairs, rubbed her face in the floor and stubbed a cigarette out on her shoulder like it “was an ashtray,” Miss Stannard continued.

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

He argued Miss Kosinska “fabricated” the claims after she met another man.

“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 victim,” James Burke, defending said.

Jaskula will be sentenced on April 22 at the same court.