Boyfriend deemed a danger to women brutally bludgeoned Leeds partner to death with claw hammer
Judge said controlling thug was intent on murder
A thug with a violent past against women brutally beat his partner to death with a hammer and stabbed her to the chest in a “merciless” jealous attack.
Jack Johns murdered 51-year-old mum Gosia Wiktor at her home in Belle Isle in June of this year.
He was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court this morning and told he must serve a minimum of 29 years.
But the court was told that 53-year-old Johns, who was previously known as Colin French, has two serious previous convictions against ex partners.
He was deemed so dangerous in 2006 he received an indeterminate prison sentence for torching the Norfolk house of a teenager who ended their relationship, while her and her family were inside.
He poured petrol through their letterbox and lit it with a match. They had to be evacuated by firefighters through an upstairs window.
He was released on life licence six years later, but in 2016 he attempted to kidnap his estranged wife in Cambridgeshire and was jailed again for seven years.
On that occasion he hid in the boot of her car and then chased down the street her with a knife.
The judge at that time told him he “posed a significant risk to future partners in times of relationship breakdown”.
Judge Tom Bayliss KC told Johns this morning at Leeds Crown Court that he was an “extremely dangerous man”.
He told him: “It will be a very long time indeed before you are even considered for release.
“Her devastating loss will follow her family and friends forever.
“I’m quite sure that this homicide occurred in a domestically-abusive relationship.
“I have no hesitation that you intended to kill her. That was your purpose, established by the ferocity of the attack.
“I completely reject that it was an impulsive reaction. I’m quite sure it was premeditated.
“It was not merely a murder committed during a relationship.
“This was a culmination of a campaign of coercive and controlling behaviour.
“You subjected her to an exceptionally violent attack. It was merciless.”
The court heard that had become paranoid that she had been unfaithful, and on the morning of her death, he began drinking heavily before going to her home.
Judge Bayliss said Gosia was “at least contemplating” ending their relationship, and like previous partners, Johns had threatened suicide if they had split.
He said there were “striking similarities” between the murder and his previous convictions, with planned violence.
He described Johns as an “obsessive, possessive, domineering and unstable individual”.
Outlining the case, prosecutor Geraldine Kelly KC said Johns and Gosia had been in a relationship for around six months at the time of her death.
Gosia was from Poland but had lived in Leeds for around 16 years, working as a receptionist at a dental surgery in Potternewton.
They were engaged after just three months, but Gosia felt it was “rushed”, and there were concerns from both family and friends about his controlling behaviour.
He would “love bomb” her - a manipulation tactic of overwhelming affection to gain her trust.
Johns would then criticise what she wore, would “give her the silent treatment” and watch her every move.
Even Johns’ sister advised her to walk away, given his history.
On June 11 this year, she failed to turn up for work and after her son was unable to get into her property on Foster Square, police forced entry.
They found both Johns and Gosia laid in the hallway unconscious, with Johns on top of her.
She was found in a critical condition with a knife wound to chest. The claw hammer was found underneath her and the kitchen knife recovered.
She was sadly declared deceased around an hour later.
Following a postmortem it was found she had 19 lacerations to her head and face.
She had multiple skull fractures consistent with the use of a hammer and a 19cm stab wound to the chest that had pierced her heart and lung.
Johns had taken an overdose of medication and alcohol and was taken to hospital. He was arrested the next morning for murder.
Johns, of School Street, Tingley, claimed he could not remember killing her. He admitted her murder during an early court appearance.
The knife he used had been taken to the scene, with both the Crown and Judge Bayliss rejecting his claim he was carrying it for culinary purposes.
Mitigating, Richard Wright KC said Johns still maintains he can’t remember the attack on Gosia.
He said Johns was sorry and deserved and “wants” to be punished.