He has been jailed after his victim was left ‘feeling worthless’, a court heard
Robert Szymske has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A violent and abusive bully made a woman’s life a “misery” – and left her feeling “worthless” – after a “relentless” campaign of nasty and intimidating behaviour towards her. Robert Szymske caused her to suffer a “nightmare” and it was deliberately “intended to grind her down” and “belittle” her, a court heard.
Szymske, 49, of Porter Street, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, denied a series of offences, including controlling and coercive behaviour between December 29, 2015 and July 16 last year but he was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court after a trial. He was also convicted of intentional strangulation on April 18 last year and perverting the course of justice between April 20 and July 16 last year.
Judge Richard Woolfall told a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court that the violence against the woman included Szymske grabbing her in a headlock during one argument and applying pressure for a few seconds, restricting her breathing. He was violent and made threats of violence throughout their relationship as well as being abusive and intimidating.
The last three or four years of the relationship were the worst. Judge Woolfall told Szymske: “It was almost daily when you subjected her to that sort of behaviour, which had a very significant impact on her health.
“Your behaviour was deliberate and it was intended to cause distress and fear and intended to grind her down, which it did. It was relentless in the way you belittled her. You just kept on going.”
Szymske later sent messages in a bid to try to get the woman to withdraw her account. He made threats and was “trying to use that as a lever” to drop her claims against him.
“The impact on her has been very significant,” said Judge Woolfall. “You made her feel so worthless that she ultimately became too frightened to leave you.
“The life inside that household was one of misery. Fear of harm was caused on many occasions.” The woman said in a statement that the behaviour of Szymske took a toll on her whole life and she felt trapped.
“Robert caused me to feel worthless,” she said. “I didn’t feel important enough to seek help. I consider my relationship with Robert to be a nightmare.
“My relationship with Robert is still casting a shadow over my life. I feel free, free of arguments, free of misunderstandings.”
Claire Holmes, mitigating, said that Szymske felt real remorse, even though he did not accept all the allegations made against him. He wished to communicate his sadness and regret and he was apologetic.
There were green shoots in his attitude that might lead to change in the future. Szymske, from Poland, was likely to be deported.
“He has already received papers regarding deportation,” said Miss Holmes. “He has been in this country for 20 years. He has built a life here.” He had no previous convictions.
Szymske was jailed for eight-and-a-half years. He was given an indefinite restraining order.
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