Controlling boyfriend installed CCTV at home to mock his girlfriend’s weight, court hears

A controlling boyfriend installed CCTV in his home so that he could mock his girlfriend’s weight while he was at work, a court has heard.

Janusz Jelen, 34, has been convicted of inflicting psychological abuse on Agnieszka Mogilska after it emerged he installed a surveillance camera in his lounge to spy on her as she walked around their home.

During their two year romance Jelen, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, would log into the device at work via his iPhone to scrutinise the mother of two’s appearance.

He would ask Miss Mogilska, a 37-year-old production worker at a lighting company, to raise her arm to see if she had any fat and suggest she wear trousers as he claimed her “thighs were shaking”.

The couple, who moved to the UK from their native Poland, had been dating for two years but arguments began to surface after Jelen laughed at her English pronunciation.

Jelen’s belief that she was cheating led to him eavesdropping on her intimate conversations with friends, Tameside magistrates court was told.

Police were eventually called in after the victim said she felt like she was living "in a mental hospital with 24 hours a day surveillance."

Miss Mogilska, 37, said: "At first I felt very happy and loved but then there were allegations made every day that I am fat and stupid and that I didn't know English. He said my children are stupid and that they will be deported back to Poland because they don't know English.

"The camera was installed in July 2017. He had an application on his phone which enabled him to watch the camera from work. When I tried to turn it off he would text me to say to put it back on and would watch all the time. I told him I didn't like the cameras and he said that it was there for my safety because he loves me.

Jelen was convicted of an offence of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between November 2018 and October this year.

Prosecuting lawyer Lucy Bridges said: "He installed CCTV into their home so he could watch her in their home. He would say who she can and cannot talk to on social media. There were comments made about her weight, thighs and clothing. He made comments about what she should wear, comments about her breasts and how she is stupid and fat.”

"She saw a balaclava, gloves and a stick together in the home which she believes was used to intimidate her," she added.

Jelen denied wrongdoing and said: "I said once that her legs are a little bit big and we could go to the gym together which she agreed, but she stopped going so I bought gym equipment for the house. She would say 'do you like this dress' and I would say no but I would give her my credit card to buy clothes, whatever she wanted.

“I never controlled her. I think she's just playing a game and she wasn't terrified.”

Jelen will be sentenced later.