Mitesh Patel’s sperm reduction pills, cheating, humiliation, isolation and violence towards his wife – an extensive look into the murder case that shocked Teesside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sad string of callous and cruel abuse led to the brutal murder of a loving pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jessica Patel was just 34 when her life was ended by her cheating husband Mitesh Patel<\/a> in May 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And a review into her death has shone a light on the years of physical assaults, controlling behaviour and suffering she faced before her evil husband strangled her with a Tesco bag for life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Work is underway to learn lessons from Jessica\u2019s murder<\/a> – including more work to examine the signs of \u201chonour based violence\u201d, a review of the help offered to \u201cdiverse communities\u201d, and a recommendation urging the Home Office to look at how small family-owned businesses can deal with signs of domestic abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 74-page domestic homicide review by the Middlesbrough<\/a> Community Safety Partnership was published on Monday with the help of Jessica\u2019s family – offering detailed insight into what can be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mitesh Patel had plotted to murder Jessica, claim \u00a32m from a raft of insurance policies and start a new life with his gay lover in Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the review reported how Jessica had suffered years of domestic abuse at the hands of Mitesh both in the home and at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jessica\u2019s family listed a string of examples of domestic abuse and \u201ccontrolling and coercive behaviour\u201d which were highlighted in the probe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They included how Jessica had told her younger sister how Mitesh had \u201chit her in the car\u201d in disagreements over Jessica being stopped from seeing more of her dying grandfather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another example told how Jessica \u201cstopped speaking up about things\u201d and \u201cappeared scared\u201d when it came to committing to attending family events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Jessica and Mitesh were registered with the same GP practice in Middlesbrough and both were well-known to the surgery as their pharmacy was closely linked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The probe found Mitesh\u2019s behaviour remained \u201chidden from agencies\u201d and it was only when Mitesh killed Jessica sparking a police investigation that the jigsaw of \u201cappalling behaviour\u201d was revealed from the testimony of colleagues and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jessica visited her GP and told how she was suffering anxiety and was under pressure because she could not conceive in April 2016 which led to a referral for cognitive therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the homicide review found that the GP not asking questions about Jessica\u2019s potential domestic abuse was a \u201cmissed opportunity\u201d to uncover what was going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The probe also detailed how Mitesh had intimate relationships with a number of men during the time he was married to Jessica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jessica was born into a large Hindu community in Leeds and was described by her family as being a quiet, innocent and \u201cgood girl\u201d who wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Jessica and Mitesh knew each other as children before meeting again when they were older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the lessons from the tragedy, the independent review found Jessica\u2019s murder was an \u201chonour killing\u201d given wider \u201ccultural beliefs about sexuality\u201d and was an example of something that might have been perceived as adultery and immoral behaviour within the Hindu community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The report added: \u201cDivorce on the grounds that Mitesh was gay could never have been a reason for him to end his marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConsequently, the only way that Mitesh may have felt able to leave the marriage with honour was by killing Jessica<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJessica did nothing that was, or might be perceived, as dishonourable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever, her death at the hands of Mitesh should be considered an honour killing because Mitesh killed her to try and protect his own honour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nString of long-term domestic abuse<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMissed opportunity\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n