Broxtowe woman thought drunken ex was going to kill her in son's paddling pool

A Nottingham woman 'thought she was going to die' at the hand of her drunk ex-partner when he held her head under the water of their son’s paddling pool. Nottingham Crown Court was told how Marcin Podbielski twice submerged his former wife in the garden of her Broxtowe home.

The 43-year-old was heard by a witness to say he would “kill the ***t” as she struggled to breathe before he dragged her head out of the water and dunked it in a second time. Now the Polish national faces being deported back to his home country having been sent to prison for the first time in his life.

Jailing him for 16 months, Recorder Bruce Gardiner said: “You had been drinking before you arrived and you continued drinking while you were there. You pushed her towards the paddling pool, grabbed her and then held her head under the water.

“She thought she was going to die. You let go of her and she was able to come up for air but she thought you were trying to kill her.

“There were children present but it is not clear they were able to see what was happening and what you did had a significant impact on her. I have read what you said (to the probation service) and you don’t seem to appreciate the gravity of your conduct.”

Catherine Picardo, prosecuting, said the defendant had been married to the victim and they have a 13-year-old son together. She said they had separated with her citing his drinking as being one of the issues, but earlier this year he got back in contact about having access to seeing his son.

The prosecutor said: “On July 21 he came to her address and she noticed he was drunk but they were getting on so he stayed for the afternoon. Her new partner arrived and they went to the cashpoint so the defendant could withdraw some money for his son’s bus fare but when they got back to her house they began to argue with him thinking she had his bank card.

“He pushed and shoved her and she fell where he grabbed her and pushed her head under the water. She could not breathe and thought she was going to be killed. Her new partner heard the defendant say ‘I am going to kill that ***t’ but she was able to get free and into the living room.”

Miss Picardo read out part of a victim impact statement made by the ex-wife. On it she said she "struggles to sleep, has nightmares” and has lost her job as she “is unable to work”.

Podbielski, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a charge of suffocation and has no previous convictions of any kind. Almas Ben-Aribia, mitigating, said her client has spent the past five months in custody on remand which is the equivalent of a 10-month jail term.

She said: “He accepts his wrongdoing and accepts he pushed her into the water and held her down. He has been in the UK for 10 years having moved here for better prospects of employment as a plasterer and decorator and he continues to financially support their 13-year-old son. He wants this to be his first and last taste of custody.”

As well as the jail term, the judge handed Podbielski a three-year restraining order. He told him the decision on whether to deport him on the completion of the remainder of his sentence will be down to the Home Office.