Neven Kovac – Ipswich

Neven Kovac, 31, of Ipswich

Article from: 10/01/2026

A violent thug who waged a campaign of abuse and control over his partner has been jailed for four years.

Neven Kovac, 31, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, was convicted unanimously by a jury after a trial of two counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of common assault.

All the offences were committed against the same victim. Kovac did not give evidence in his own defence.

The court heard that the relationship began positively but deteriorated into one marked by intimidation, isolation and repeated physical abuse.

Prosecutors said Kovac cut the woman off from friends and criticised her appearance, calling her degrading names when she tried to take care of herself.

He became fixated on alleged infidelity and took issue with her keeping intimate photographs.

On occasions, the victim said she was stripped naked and tied to railings of the property, leaving her feeling “humiliated” and “degraded”.

Kovac also dismissed her health needs and told her to “grow up”.

Between September and October 2023, an argument escalated after Kovac overheard the victim speaking to a male friend.

In what was described as a rage, he threw a chest of drawers at her, fracturing her finger and injuring her arm.

On another occasion, he threw a fork which lodged in her arm, leaving a scar.

Further violence followed in November 2023, when Kovac picked her up and threw her face-first into a wall before punching her.

The victim later attended hospital with injuries, initially giving false explanations.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said the abuse had left lasting emotional, mental and physical scars, adding that she had felt completely isolated and blamed herself for the violence.

Sentencing Kovac on Friday, Recorder Sally O’Neill KC said he had shown little insight into his behaviour and had made the victim feel “utterly powerless and worthless” in front of her children.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for battery against a partner and committed these offences while subject to a suspended sentence.