A man has been given a life sentence after admitting the murder of Gosia Wiktor in Belle Isle earlier this year.
Jack Johns, aged 53, of School Street, Tingley, appeared at Leeds Crown Court today where he was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years.
Officers forced entry to Gosia’s home in Foster Square, Belle Isle, on 11 June 2026 after a 999 call from her son reporting concerns after she had failed to turn up for work.
Gosia was found in the hallway of the property with multiple injuries to her skull and face as well as a stab wound to her chest. An officer began CPR, but Gosia was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. A claw hammer and a knife were found on the floor nearby.
Johns was also found unconscious within the property and was later arrested on suspicion of murder at hospital where he received treatment after taking an overdose of medication combined with alcohol.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Hannah Dixon, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said:
“As Johns is sentenced today, my thoughts are with Gosia’s family and Gosia herself, the woman who was at the heart of this investigation who tragically died at the hands of a person she had put her trust in.
“We now know that while nothing had been reported to the police, both Gosia and family members and friends had some concerns about Johns’ behaviour towards her. Their six-month relationship was categorised by a pattern of love bombing by Johns towards Gosia followed by unpredictable and controlling behaviour.
“We were informed that Gosia stated that Johns was constantly affectionate towards her, frequently telling her he loved her, buying her gifts, and wanting to spend time with her. Johns had proposed to her after only a few months. These things in themselves may not be reason for concern but always wanting to be with someone can also translate to controlling someone else’s movements or who else they see. We have been told that in this case Johns would tell Gosia what to wear, be intrusive into her personal life and want to know who she was friends with on social media.
“We understand Gosia had considered contacting Johns’ ex-partners to talk to them about his behaviour because she had started to fear him. This case serves as a timely reminder that under Clare’s Law you can make an application to the police requesting information about your current or ex-partner if you are worried they may have been abusive in the past and believe they may pose a risk to you in the future.
“It is also important to highlight that under Clare’s Law that same request can also be made by a close friend, neighbour or family member. I understand people may have concerns about interfering in other people’s relationships or think that they need to witness physical abuse to contact the police. My message would be that if you do have concerns about either physical or emotional abuse or controlling behaviour such as limiting contact with others or controlling finances then please make contact with us.”
You can find out more information about Clare’s Law at: Clare’s Law – Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme | West Yorkshire Police. If you do want to make an application there is a dedicated form on our website, or you can attend a police station or call 101.
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Police
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