by Keith Hunt

An ex-police officer accused of murdering his wife suffered from a mental condition which made him believe he was a potential Prime Minister, a court heard.

Ivan Esack also compared himself to former South African president Nelson Mandela, a psychiatrist told Maidstone Crown Court.

Giving evidence for the defence, Dr Timothy Rogers said the 38-year-old football agent had a Narcissistic personality disorder which could have diminished his responsibility.

The consultant forensic scientist said people suffering from the disorder walked around in a bubble.

Esack saw himself as a Conservative Prime Minister but was rejected as a Parliamentary candidate.

“It was an aspiration for himself which had little chance,” said Dr Rogers. “He said: ‘I wanted to be Prime Minister. Everyone dreams of that.’

“He spent £3,000 on a genuine James Bond watch. He fancied himself as James Bond.”

Esack had worn it to work when a police detective. He enjoyed the prestige of being in the police and exaggerated his ability and success.

Ivan Esack's home is cordoned off after the attack on his wife

He joined the Kent Force in 2003. He said he enjoyed interviewing suspects and could be quite manipulative. He left after six years because he was bored with the politics.

When he had problems, he was bailed out by his wealthy father, who lived in Abu Dhabi. He built up the successful hairdressing salon with his wife and later passed his Football Association examinations to become an agent.

Giving evidence for the prosecution, consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph said he agreed Esack had a Narcissistic personality disorder but disagreed he had the inability to exercise control.

“People who suffer from a Narcissistic disorder have the ability to exercise control,” said Dr Joseph.

The psychiatrist had asked Esack to describe his personality as a young adult and was told he was arrogant and had a high opinion of himself.

He claimed to have a sixth sense about people and said he was punching above his weight.

“I was manipulative as part of my personality, but I was not a con man,” he told Dr Joseph. “I believe nothing was impossible. I look at Nelson Mandela and when I get out of prison there is nothing to stop me reaching my goals.”

He accepted being manipulative when in the police. He was superficially charming and prided himself he had the ability to manipulate people to do what he wanted.

When interviewing suspects, he would manipulate them to admit a crime and receive a caution.

“Being a Narcissistic person also involves being a manipulative person,” said Dr Joseph. “He always puts his own needs and emotions first.

“He said success went to his head in the police force. He thought he was the new Sherlock Holmes. He thought he had charisma and business skills.

"...success went to his head in the police force. he thought he was the new sherlock holmes" – psychiatrist dr philip joseph

“It is important for people who have this disorder to feel special. A corner stone of this disorder is lack of empathy, the inability to share feelings and identify with them.”

Dr Joseph said he agreed Esack suffered from a Narcissistic personality disorder but did not believe it was “that severe”.

He added: “It does not prevent him from living his life in a fairly functional way in terms of employment and marriage.

“It did not impair his ability to form a rational judgement. It is my opinion this disorder is not associated with the inability to exercise self-control.”

The psychiatrist said Esack could not look at matters from his wife Natalie’s perspective and appreciate her feelings.

“It caused him to feel extremely angry and enraged and he took matters into his own hands. It is likely during that period he felt out of control.

“Actually killing Natalie was his way of exerting control over her. It became much more in control when he did decide to go and kill her.

“By stabbing her, it would be an act of revenge for her leaving him and forming a relationship with someone else, and deceiving him and lying to him.

“He is saying to himself: ‘I have lost her. She is not coming back. I am going to control the situation by making sure no one else has her.’”

Ivan Esack selects a knife from Sainsbury's, before paying at a self-service checkout and calmly walking out of the store before killing his wife

Esack told Dr Joseph he believed he was victimised and treated badly by Natalie.

He denied being controlling and violent towards her, except in the week leading up to her death.

He gave Natalie the impression he was going to kill himself after she told him the relationship was over.

“His world collapsed and he wanted to finish her off,” said Dr Joseph. “He saw it as a cold and cruel, perhaps punitive, thing she said to him. That built up his anger and resentment and the need to punish her, to somehow get his own back.”

He told the psychiatrist: “I felt betrayed. How could I be treated like this in my hour of need? I felt totally humiliated, small and belittled.”

Floral tributes outside Esack hair and beauty

The night before Natalie was killed, he drank whisky and decided to end his life in the salon, he claimed. He said he would go there in the morning and cut his throat in front of Natalie to show her how he was feeling.

He went to Sainsbury’s to buy a knife and cat food. He planned to go home to feed his cat but went straight to the salon. He took the knife out of the packaging and put it in his pocket.

Esack said he went into the salon and snapped when Natalie told him to get out.

“I felt angry,” he said. “I lost it and stabbed her. I threw the knife down on the computer. I didn’t attempt to harm myself.”

He said he had no memory of saying: “She deserved it, the bitch.” Nor did he remember saying: “She ------ me over. She had it coming to her. She drove me to it.”

Esack, of Rosewood Drive, Ashford, admits manslaughter but denies murder.

He went to Esack Hair and Beauty in Ashford High Street on the morning of April 30 last year after buying a knife and stabbed her 11 times.

The trial continues.