Woman fled from London to Leeds to escape violent boyfriend
A woman moved to Leeds to get away from her violent ex who would sleep rough outside her home for weeks at a time.
Patryk Procyk went on to attack the woman twice in a day, repeatedly hitting her to the body, knowing the bruises could be hidden.
He was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after he was found guilty after a trial of coercive control, two counts of ABH and stalking that caused serious alarm or distress.
The woman had first met Procyk at a McDonald’s in London in January 2024 and he was homeless.
Their friendship progressed into a relationship, but it was not long before he became controlling and aggressive towards her, prosecutor Tonicha Allen said.
He would tell she had too much make-up on and criticise her. She was not permitted to out unless it was with him or would follow her.
During one incident at the cinema he punched her to the stomach. When she visited a friend in Essex he followed her there.
He also spent time sleeping outside of her home and would throw objects at her window.
The woman decided to move to Leeds to get away from him.
However, they would meet up and she invited him to Leeds to stay with her.
They would drink and he would become abusive. On February 8 last year, the 27-year-old became angry and attacked her twice, hitting her to the body.
She later struggled to sleep due to the pain and later contacted the police, having taken pictures of her bruises.
After his arrest, he said during his police interview that had become jealous that she had cheated on him.
Procyk, who is from Poland and required an interpreter in court, has no previous convictions.
Having been found guilty after his trial at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, he failed to turn up for his sentencing, so was re-arrested and held on remand.
Procyk, of Essex Road, West Acton, London, appeared in court this week over a video link from HMP Leeds.
Mitigating, Stuart Field said Procyk and his ex partner had both “indulged” in “unhealthy drinking culture”, but said it did not excuse his behaviour.
He said prison had been a “salutary” experience for him. He added that a job at a cleaning company was waiting for him after his release.
The judge, Recorder Simon Jackson KC told Procyk that his violence was simply a way of “exerting control” over her.
He told him: “You felt entitled to use violence against your partner.
“You have exhibited entrenched patterns of behaviour.”
He jailed him for three years and gave him a 10-year restraining order.