Ex-Czech cop jailed over Sydney assault

A former Czech police officer who followed his "soul mate" to Australia in the hopes of rekindling their failed relationship has been sentenced for the "gratuitous violence" he then inflicted upon her.

Pavel Svanda, 38, tasered, sexually assaulted and cut off the hair of his ex-girlfriend in Sydney after ambushing her at her flat on June 8 last year.

In sentencing him to at least five years and six months in prison on Friday, Judge Sarah Huggett said Svanda "belittled and humiliated" the woman by hacking off her hair with a razor and scissors during the attack.

"I'm not convinced that he is genuinely remorseful," Judge Huggett told Sydney's District Court, saying Svanda had told a psychiatrist that his ex "planned to cut her hair anyway".

Svanda tracked the woman down to her new home in Sydney to convince her to "spend the rest of their lives together", Judge Huggett said.

But the pair began an argument, with Svanda accusing her of being in contact with his ex-wife.

When the woman laughed at him he snapped, sparking a "frightening" serious of events.

Svanda tasered the woman in the back and warned her if she tried to get away he would hold it down for longer "so it would finish her off".

"There can be no doubt at all the complainant would have been paralysed with fear at this stage," Judge Huggett said.

Svanda then forced her onto the bed, bound her with black tape and gagged her, before carving out large chunks of the woman's hair with a razor and scissors, claiming he knew she was seeing another man.

Once this was done, Svanda repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

He eventually left, warning her not to go to the police.

She was later freed by a flatmate and he was arrested the next day.

A month later, the woman received a letter from Svanda in Silverwater prison apologising for what he had done and offering her $2000 to withdraw the charges against him.

Judge Huggett took into account the fact that Svanda's time in jail would be harsher as he spoke no English and had no friends or family in Australia.

She sentenced him to a maximum of eight years and 10 months.

He will be eligible for parole in December 2019.