Wife killer Ivan Esack described by detective as 'hugely arrogant and controlling'
by James Scott
The man who led the investigation into wife killer Ivan Esack's
murderous rampage has described him as "hugely arrogant and
controlling".
DCI Paul Fotheringham, pictured left, said the world
"revolves around" the former Kent Police detective.
Mr Fotheringham, who led the investigation codenamed operation
Goblet, said: "He's clearly an obnoxious individual, hugely
arrogant, narcissistic. It's all about him.
"He's a horrible person who deserves to spend a long time in
jail.
"Ivan is very much a controlling individual which has been made
clear from the evidence presented in court.
"He's hugely arrogant. The world revolves around Ivan, not just
in terms of controlling Natalie. It's all about him. Even in the
five hours worth of interviews – it was all about him being
affronted."
Originally from Middlesborough, where his mother still lives,
Esack spent his early adult life working in bars in London before
joining the police in July 2003.
He worked for Kent Police as a detective constable based at
Maidstone police station until December 2009.
Mr Fotheringham said Esack had a "completely unremarkable
career" covering low-level crimes, such as burglaries and vehicle
crime.
He said his reason for leaving the force was that he "got
bored" and added: "I feel extremely embarrassed that he was a
police officer."
Killer Ivan Esack
worked as Kent Police detective until December 2009
In comparison, Natalie was widely described as a caring,
selfless and popular individual who always put others before
herself.
Mr Fotheringham said: "A number of people have said that Natalie
was their best friend, that she was such a caring individual who
would always put others before herself and was hugely popular, and
hard-working - just a lovely person.
"One of the things in this case that is remarkable is we’ve
found nothing negative about Natalie.
"Everyone has the odd skeleton but there was nothing. The only
person who has said horrible things about her was Ivan Esack. She
was very caring, hard-working.
"Everyone just talks about her as somebody who took the worries
off everyone else."
Natalie Esack was
described as "caring, selfless and popular"
He added that it was her caring nature that prompted her
decision not to further involve police following threats from
Esack.
"Natalie, over the years, only disclosed a certain amount of
what was happening to her," said Mr Fotheringham.
"Natalie was a very private person, and also would have been
embarrassed about coming forward to a certain extent, but also I
think she was more worried about Ivan Esack and the impact on his
career and his life.
"He had just qualified as a football agent and if he got a
conviction for anything then that would scupper that.
"I think she was more worried about that than herself, which
shows the sort of selfless person that she was.
"It just showed her personality as a caring person that she did
nothing because she didn't want anything to happen to him."
Video: DCI Paul
Fotheringham talks about Ivan Esack
Chelsea Ford, Natalie's colleague who was in the salon when
Esack struck, paid tribute to her after the verdict.
Pictured below, she said: "Natalie, my boss, my role model,
most importantly my closest best friend, now a beautiful angel.
"Sixteen years between us, but you wouldn't
know. That was one of the best things about Natalie, no matter the
age, or how much she knew about life, she would always treat me the
same.
"She taught me everything - not just about hairdressing but
about life too. The world has lost a woman who wasn't just
beautiful on the outside but a special, caring person who'd help
anyone she could.
"I truly couldn't have asked for a better friend, we'd talk,
laugh and enjoy everyday no matter what was going on, like she
would always say to me 'laugh, because if you don't, you'd
cry'.
"Forever in my hearts and thoughts."
09/01/13
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