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A remorseless abuser who punched a soft spot on his partner’s skull in attacks he named “break the coconut” has been jailed.
Marta Kosinska, 38, pleaded for years with her tormentor to avoid damaging the area fractured in a childhood trauma.
But Marcin Jaskula, of Cliftonville, would often rain punches despite doctors advising further harm could kill her.
The 44-year-old denied engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour between 2015 and 2020 during a trial at Canterbury Crown Court earlier this year.
But jurors unanimously convicted Jaskula in February after deliberating for less than two hours.
Miss Kosinska, who watched from the public gallery as Jaskula was jailed today, told the same court she suffers anxiety and chilling nightmares.
“I dream that I’m in Northdown Road and Marcin is following me.
“I see him and I begin to run, he runs and catches up with me, squeezes me and chokes me, as this is something he did quite a lot when we were together.
“I wake up shouting which sometimes wakes up my daughter as well,” she said in a victim impact statement.
Miss Kosinska told how her waking life can be equally anxiety inducing.
“When I go out I’m usually looking around and behind me, checking Marcin isn’t behind and following me.
“If I’m with others and someone shouts or raises their voice it makes me jump, the sounds can make me feel physically sick.
“If I see someone around who is wearing a baseball cap I’m on edge,” she added.
Judge Catherine Brown rapped Jaskula for “staring” at visibly distressed Miss Kosinska from the dock throughout the hearing.
She called his actions “consistent with his conduct over the years” before he stormed out of the dock toward the cells.
During the trial, prosecutor Sophie Stannard said Jaskula named Miss Kosinska's injured skull bones "the coconut."
"And what he meant by this was that he would take a shot, or try to break the coconut,” she continued.
Speaking from behind a screen, Miss Kosinska told jurors she cracked her head during an accident, aged eight.
Jaskula would also refer to his fists as “coconuts” and direct blows towards the area, she explained.
“Sometimes he would punch my head because I told him I broke my skull before - the doctor said one hit and you could die,” Miss Kosinska said.
“When I told him that he punched my head more... 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.
He 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.
Today, handing down a 32-month sentence, Judge Brown told Jaskula he had shown “no remorse” and was convicted on “overwhelming evidence.”
“(The abuse) was all part of your extreme need to control her and ensure she was frightened of you.
“I have heard the powerful victim statement and the effect upon Marta both physically and emotionally was very significant.
“The fact that you continue to stare at her now is consistent with your conduct over the years.”
James Burke, mitigating, said Jaskula continued to deny the abuse but highlighted he had suffered significant mental health issues.
Mr Burke explained Jaskula, a Polish national, became isolated during his time in the UK, and was of previous good character.
He added Jaskula had successfully addressed mental health issues in the past and suffered childhood trauma.
Jaskula, previously of Godwin Road in Cliftonville, will be subject to a five-year restraining order on his release.
The nine months already spent on remand will be deducted from his overall sentence.
