Controlling Leeds son who pushed retired midwife mum down stairs gets 19 year sentence at Leeds Crown Court

A violent and controlling son who  twice pushed his mother down the stairs at their Leeds home has been handed an extended prison sentence of 19 years.
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Leeds Crown Court heard Daniel Kozak was not only repeatedly violent towards his mother, but was also controlling and coercive - including stopping her seeing people and checking her phone and internet use.

A Jury convicted Kozak, 32, of wounding with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, assault, coercive behaviour and controlling behaviour.

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The court heard his mother, who suffers from osteoporosis, still loved Kozak and had allowed him to return to her home in Colton after he served a prison sentence imposed for a previous attack.

Daniel KozakDaniel Kozak
Daniel Kozak

Kozak's mother had a long career as a midwife and he had talked about how he may be able to inherit her pension if something were to happen to her.

On November 24 2019, Kozak called his mother to come to the top of the stairs before pushing her down them.

He then hit her on the head with heavy bathroom scales with such force that the scales were damaged.

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She suffered a ten centimetre head wound, a bleed on the brain and a fractured vertebrae in her spine and was hospitalised.

She also received hospital treatment for head and chest injuries in April 2019 after Kozak kicked her down the stairs and kicked and stamped on her chest.

And in August 2019 he pushed her to the floor, causing an injury to her left eye.

In March 2014 he pushed his mother over - causing her to break a wrist - and punched her in the face and leg.

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Kozak, of no fixed address, was jailed in January 2015 after being convicted of that assault following a trial.

Prosecutor, Giles Grant, said Kozak's mother carried on supporting him when he was released from prison when he didn't have a job, friends or a social life.

Mr Grant said: "His mother describes how he became extremely jealous of her time.

"He didn't want her to see anyone, even family. That he goes into her phone and her social media messages.

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"That he responds to messages sent from others - declining meetups and events."

Charles Blatchford, mitigating, said: "He still denies he has committed any of the offences.

"He thinks his mother has some mental health problems and that's why she has made this up."

Mr Blatchford said Kozak has said he has stage three or four prostate and bowel cancer and an abdominal hernia, but there is no medical evidence.

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Mr Blatchford added: "He is concerned he will not survive any sentence."

The court heard a psychiatric report on Kozak did not reveal any mental health issues.

Judge Neil Clark handed Kozak an extended sentence of 14 years jail plus a five year licence extension.

Judge Clark told Kozak: "It is clear you continue to show no insight or empathy or sympathy for your mother as you continue to deny the offences.

"This was in your victim's home, where - despite what you had done before - she had shown you love, trust and kindness."