A WINCHAM dad subjected his partner to months of bullying before she suffered a breakdown and stabbed their one-year-old son to death.

Peter Chilvers, of Hewitt Grove, was found guilty of significant domestic abuse in the build-up to the tragic incident.

Officers were called to a Wythenshawe address on August 27, 2017 to find the body of 23-month-old James Chilvers in the bath. He had suffered catastrophic stab wounds.

James’s mum Magdalena Lesicka had left before police arrived and gone to hospital with 33-year-old Chilvers, for treatment for serious, self-inflicted stab wounds.

In the days that followed, Magdalena was arrested in hospital and remained under watch by police until she recovered from her injuries.

Detectives soon established that Magdalena had been subjected to systematic abuse by Chilvers.

Following a five-week trial, Chilvers was found guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour, common assault and criminal damage. On Thursday, December 19, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Lesicka, 33, of Beaford Road in Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility in July 2018 and is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.

During her impact statement which was read out in court, she said: “I hope he [Chilvers] recognises that he didn’t need to break me in the way he did. He has taken everything from me, including my spirit.”

Speaking after the case, DCI Richard Eales, of Greater Manchester Police said: “This has been one of the most devastating and complex cases that I have ever come across.

“I speak for myself and many other colleagues when I say that our thoughts will always remain with James - an innocent little boy who lost his life so needlessly.

“Understandably the death of James sent shockwaves through the community and I know the tragic loss of James has been felt by all those who knew and loved him.

“Today’s result is the culmination of hard work and determination from detectives who have been absolutely committed to this case over the past two years and I would like to thank them for their dedication and resolve in the most distressing of circumstances.

“Peter Chilvers inflicted significant domestic abuse towards Magdalena Lesicka over a sustained period of time, which the court accepts contributed towards a break down in her mental health on that fateful evening in August 2017.

“If people take anything away from this heartbreaking case, please let it be that there is support and help available for those who are suffering at the hands of domestic abuse.

“Most importantly though, I hope today’s result has seen justice served for the person who matters most – James.”

The National Domestic Violence Helpline is available on 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day, seven days a week.