A woman stabbed her 23-month-old son to death before trying to kill herself after being subjected to years of psychological abuse by her coercive and bullying boyfriend.

In what police and women’s rights groups described as one of the worst examples of coercive and controlling behaviour they had come across Magdalena Lesicka, 33, was subjected to relentless mental torment by Ryanair flight captain Peter Chilvers, leaving her feeling trapped in the toxic relationship.

A court heard that Lesicka, who met Chilvers while also working for the airline, inflicted a sustained attack on their son, James, at her home in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, in August 2017 and then tried to kill herself.

Lesicka, a Polish national, was jailed for 15 years in July last year after she pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

She was sentenced on the basis that her mental illness emerged suddenly and without any warning, and she had no memory of committing the offence.

Chilvers, 33, from Northwich, Cheshire, denied any wrongdoing and subsequently went on trial at Manchester Crown Court, where he was convicted last month of controlling or coercive behaviour.

Reporting restrictions were lifted on the case on Thursday as Chilvers was jailed for 18 months.