Man jailed for subjecting Wife to Years of Abuse

Mohit Wadhwa, aged 37, formerly of Penhill, Swindon, was jailed for three years and seven months after he subjected his wife to years of abuse.

Swindon Crown Court heard that the abuse suffered by his wife between 2015 and 2018 caused her to lose a significant amount of weight.

She alleged that he had been controlling throughout their decade-long relationship.

On one occasion in 2017, he twisted her arm so hard she feared it would break. He then threw her into a room and refused to let her children in to see her.

After another row, Wadhwa kicked her in the back then took her car keys, forcing her to walk their children to school.

She was in so much pain that she had to call a taxi later that day so she could pick the children up from school. To alleviate the pain, the victim had to sit on a doughnut cushion.

Another incident saw Wadhwa pin his wife against a wall by her throat. This prompted their daughter to speak up in her mother’s defence.

Wadhwa taunted his daughter, telling her she had “found her voice”.

In 2018, the victim and her children returned from a trip to the USA. They were picked up from the airport by the woman’s father.

Wadhwa followed them in his car and banged on their vehicle when they stopped at traffic lights.

Wadhwa even forced his wife to take out a £10,000 loan, threatening to divorce her if she refused.

At a hearing in February 2021, Wadhwa was found guilty of controlling behaviour and two counts of actual bodily harm.

In a victim statement read by prosecutor Caighli Taylor, the victim said the abuse at the hands of her husband “flew back to her” when she had to come to court to give evidence.

Ms Taylor said: “These were memories that she tried to block or shut away and she also said that in essence she found the experience of giving evidence quite difficult.

“She was feeling hurt and felt like crying.”

Judge Jason Taylor QC said:

“You were married to your victim and had two children together.

“During the course of the marriage, you began what was to become an open affair yet still came back to the marital home as and when it suited you and on your terms.

“Over a period of almost three years, your behaviour ranged from psychological to physical abuse which chipped away at your wife’s self-confidence and self-worth.

“You isolated your wife from her friends and family and with the latter you made her choose you over them to the extent that she didn’t see her parents between 2008 and 2018.

“Of course, I will only sentence you for the indicted period for when this law was in force [from 2015], but it is notable that your control was such that her mother never even met her grandson before she sadly passed away.

“That lack of compassion and the cruelty is striking but it fits with your character that I had an opportunity of observing at the trial.”

“All in all, over this prolonged period of time you made her life miserable and you treated her with no respect.”

“She was yours to do with as you pleased – a chattel, not a wife.”

The judge said that Wadhwa threatened his wife with divorce as she knew how ashamed she would be.

“You took advantage of the fact that she felt trapped. You can shake your head as much as you want but it just illustrates your total lack of remorse.”

In mitigation, Charley Pattison said Wadhwa had been of good character. She added that character references spoke highly of him and he had expressed some remorse.

However, Judge Taylor stated that Wadhwa showed no remorse.

He said: “Watching you during the trial and watching you watch your wife give evidence spoke volumes.

“I have no doubt that forcing your family to give evidence was an extension of your controlling character.

“In my judgement, there is a total absence of remorse, not a single iota.”

Wadhwa was jailed for three years and seven months. The Swindon Advertiser reported that he was made subject to a 10-year restraining order.