Keralite husband in UK jailed for throttling and years of physical and mental abuse of his wife

LONDON Oct 28: A Keralite husband has been jailed for throttling a woman on the Isle of Wight and for subjecting his wife to years of “appalling” physical and mental abuse, Isle of Wight County Press reported.

Prince Francis, 40, of South Street, Eastbourne, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday (October 10).

At a previous hearing, he admitted to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, and intentionally strangling a female neighbour. The controlling behaviour charge relates to incidents in Totland Bay between November 30, 2023, and November 30 last year. The court heard that Francis’s relationship with his estranged wife had been violent at times and abusive, particularly after drinking alcohol.

Neil Trehame, prosecuting, told how the situation became intolerable for his wife after Francis kicked her in the genital area, not long after the birth of their fourth child.

“She became terrified by him and his behaviour,” Mr Trehame said.

Francis had also injured her arms by grabbing and twisting them, and he had stamped on her. He called the police, claiming she had assaulted him, but when they arrived, he said it was untrue.

His wife, however, used the opportunity to tell officers of the violence and abuse she’d endured from Francis throughout their 13-year marriage. And on December 8 last year, police received a call from Francis’s wife, in fear, after he had been drinking and smashed crockery.

She refused to let him in the property, and he started banging on the door and those of neighbours. Francis then attacked one of them, in front of her ten-year-old daughter, who watched in horror and screamed at him to stop as he “squeezed and tightened his hands around her throat.”

He eventually released his grip, and the victim escaped indoors. In mitigation, Nate Lara said his client’s drinking and behaviour stemmed from a failed business venture, which scuppered his plans to bring his other three children to the Island.

Mr Lara said Francis intended to return to India shortly to care for his children, as his mother was not well enough to cope. However, he was jailed for 27 months, with a ten-year restraining order.

Sentencing Francis, Judge David Melville told him his actions intended to “harm, humiliate, and degrade” his wife and that he had caused her psychological harm. “You acted in a very seriously bad way. “It’s an appalling story,” added.