Man jailed for 'one of worst coercion cases ever'

A man has been jailed over "one of the worst examples of coercive and controlling behaviour" a court said it had ever seen.

Janek Pasnicki subjected a woman to more than five years of sustained psychological abuse, during which he restricted and monitored most parts of her life, according to Surrey Police.

Officers said she was forced to rely on food banks after the 60-year-old made her give up work and took charge of her finances.

He also installed a video camera inside her home to monitor her, it added.

Officers described how Pasnicki, from Tadworth, isolated his victim from friends and family, controlled what she wore and her social media use, and recorded her conversations.

He placed paper against doors to check whether she had left the house, they added.

Surrey Police said this had left the woman - who Pasnicki referred to as his "dolly" - "unreachable" to others.

"Even though there were times I wanted to run, I was so consumed by the fear of how he might react if I tried to leave that it was enough to keep me there," she said in a statement read out at Guildford Crown Court.

"For a long time, even after I reached the conclusion that I needed to leave, I felt I had nowhere to run to."

The woman said she was still rebuilding her "confidence, independence and sense of normality", which had been eroded by Pasnicki's campaign of coercion and control.

Police said Pasnicki has subjected the woman to threats, insults and emotional manipulation if she spoke to other men.

He would threaten to harm himself and deliberately humiliate her - at times making her sign "contracts" after arguments, they added.

Pasnicki then dismissed his actions as a result of her mental health, which police said further "distorted her sense of reality".

"The strength and bravery shown by the survivor in breaking that cycle and supporting this investigation were nothing short of remarkable," said Det Con Natalie Stone.

"We urge anyone experiencing controlling or coercive behaviour to come forward.

"You will be listened to, you will be supported, and we will investigate."

Pasnicki was jailed for three years - half of which must be served in custody - and received a 10-year restraining order.

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