Controlling man who beat wife says 'I respect women' as he walks free from court

21 November 2023 , 18:58

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Kaushik Pramanik was spared jail over an attack on his wife after it was heard how he suffered from angina (Image: MyLondon / BPM Media)

A misogynist thug who was spared jail after beating his wife said "I respect women" as he walked free from court.

Kaushik Pramanik hit the woman across her face with a mobile phone and chased her down the garden with a stick in the vile attack. A court heard about his controlling behaviour towards her in which he belittled her job as a cleaner calling them 'prostitutes' on a neighbourhood WhatsApp group and tried to stop her working.

But despite this, the 48-year-old from Orpington, London, strolled out of court on Tuesday, purporting the law was biased "towards women". Pramanik was given a 30-week suspended sentence at Inner London crown court, where it was heard his attack left his partner so terrified, she forced herself to stay awake each night after until she heard him snoring.

The dad-of-four wore a handheld oxygen mask in court where medical evidence was heard of his angina, and that he was unfit to carry out unpaid work. But asked why he was not wearing his breathing aid outside the court, Pramanik said: "I have angina... Because I'm just going to the bus, now I'm talking I'll probably take it now."

Controlling Pramanik belittled his wife's job and made racist comments about her family (MyLondon / BPM Media)

He then denied looking for sympathy from the judge, saying 'No no no... I have a huge medical record'. He told MyLondon: "The problem in this country, the law is towards women."

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Pramanik said: "I'm a very good character, I'm never, ever convicted, never have any conviction. I'm a very good character. I always respect women." Challenged about his recent deviation from the claim, he said: "Except this time... because I so wanted my children to live the family life."

The court heard how Pramanik- a consultant at Global Investment Bank Limited - married his wife in 2010. Things were 'relatively good' for the couple - who share three children and a step-daughter - but prosecutor Amelia Norman said the relationship 'deteriorated' in 2016 when they moved to England.

As well as controlling his wife, demeaning her job and trying to stop her working, court documents show Pramanik was accused of controlling her finances and threatening to get her deported to her home country. The abuse came to a head in October last year when the woman was brushing her teeth and the conversation turned to divorce.

Ms Norman said: "[Mr Pramanik] became angry and began to slap her on the face and hit her with a mobile phone three to four times, causing bruising to her face." In her victim impact statement, the woman said the assault split her lip, that she found it hard to speak, and she thought she had broken her jaw.

Such was her fear of what Pramanik might do next, she stayed up every night until he was snoring, the court heard. She also began sleeping in the conservatory so she could flee into the garden if he attacked her again.

Speaking outside court he claimed, 'I respect women' (MyLondon / BPM Media)

Ms Norman said. "When she did try to defend herself, Mr Pramanik's behaviour became worse and more controlling. She could not sleep and she was worried she would not get away from him. He had so much control over her she did not report it."

The court heard how Pramanik's behaviour left his wife feeling 'isolated' after she was not allowed to speak to anyone but him. After being rude about her ambitions as a cleaner, he began applying for jobs on her behalf without telling her. In the trial it also emerged Pramanik had chased his wife down the garden with a stick, which was accepted by the judge.

Defence barrister Rebecca Thomas said the evidence 'did not give the impression' her client was deliberately trying to oppress his wife, and argued 'the bulk of the behaviour' had only just crossed the criminal threshold. She also asked the judge to consider Pramanik's 'very poor health' and use of a breathing aid.

Sentencing Pramanik, Judge Freya Newbery told him he had "a total lack of empathy". She said: "All in all you became more and more desperately opinionated about what she should and should not happen to the family and that crossed into the criminal behaviour for which the jury found you guilty... You did not shrink from saying [her relatives] were 'from a dustbin' and other phrases which were more racist than that."

Pramanik was sentenced to 30 weeks in jail for coercive and controlling behaviour and 10 weeks for assault by beating, suspended for one year. He was also ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, pay £3,000 in costs, and a £200 surcharge. Judge Newbery also imposed a restraining order preventing contact with his wife and attending her home.

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• Two women are killed every week by a current or former partner. For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

Callum Cuddeford