A SLOVAKIAN ex-cage fighter has been jailed for two brutal assaults on his partner which saw him punch her to the back of the head and strangle her.

Thomas Markovic, 44, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, April 17, to be sentenced for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Markovic had been in a relationship with the woman from 2010 until 2022, with the relationship being described in court as “toxic” and riddled with substance abuse.

In March 2022, the Slovakian got into an argument with his partner at the time when he told her she wasn’t allowed to go out, leading the two to get into a verbal argument.

This turned physical when he “grabbed her by the neck for 10 seconds” and strangled her.

Steven Ball, prosecuting, told the court how the victim was badly hurt by this incident due to her asthma, saying as well that she “was terrified, and thought he was going to punch her.”

This fear was exacerbated, the court was told, by the knowledge he used to be a boxer and cage fighter.

After this incident the relationship was over, however texts were exchanged over a dog the pair looked after together.

At this point in court, Markovic began the first of numerous outbursts throughout the case, claiming it was his dog, that he ‘always loved that woman’ and that ‘he didn’t strangle her and only pled guilty because he was told to’.

In July 2022, the two met for coffee to discuss the dog in question. Markovic, of Farrell Street in Howley, told the victim about his new relationship, which she informed him she didn’t want to know about so left him alone and went into the kitchen.

When she returned he was asleep on his sofa where she had left him. She decided to let him sleep there, until he was awoken by his own phone.

This left Markovic incensed, starting an argument with the victim. He then followed her into the kitchen and shoulder-barged her into the counter.

After this, fearing for further violence, the victim ran upstairs to her bedroom.

The ex-cage fighter then chased after her, punched the back of her head and dragged her by her hair onto the bed.

He proceeded to get on top of her, before she elbowed him and managed to run away, calling the police.

In an impact statement, the court heard how the victim “felt like she had whiplash. Some of her hair also fell out. She had her locks changed but was still scared.”

Markovic was arrested, and while out on bail broke his bail conditions and attended her flat again.

He shook his head throughout the reading of the prosecution’s summary of events, and raised his hands to try and talk at multiple points.

Defending Markovic, Oliver Saddington told the court of Markovic’s horrific childhood, where he was homeless from the age of six to 12 in his home country of Slovakia.

His mother had him when she was only 14 and had five children by the age of 20.

He did however concede the findings of a pre-sentence report that the defendant had a ‘lack of empathy’, but it was stressed that this could be rectified.

The court also heard how, during the second assault at the victim’s home, Markovic was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

In a conversation with his defence during this point of the sentencing, Markovic again loudly and aggressively told the court that he “only pled guilty because he had to” and he “did nothing wrong”.

Judge Slack presided over the case, calling the actions of Markovic “terrifying incidents.”

“The victim was vulnerable because of your physical strength.”

“There has been a profound ongoing effect of your assault, and her world has become quite small as a result.”

The Slovakian man continued to respond throughout the Judge’s comments despite repeated requests to be quiet, with his new partner also yelling out from the public dock.

Judge Kevin Slack told the court that he was unable to give a suspended sentence due to “the level of violence he inflicted upon the victim” and due to the breach of bail.

Markovic was sentenced to 24 months in prison, and a restraining order was granted preventing him from contacting the victim or visiting the victim’s home address.