Bulgarian convicted of assault after forcing man to be chauffeur

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 16:33 · Archive

Boyko Panayotov was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court for attacking and threatening a man he forced to drive him.

Boyko Panayotov, 42, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation and two counts of making threats to kill.

Panayotov had previously received a five-and-a-half-year sentence in Bulgaria for the unintentional killing of his father in 2016, serving only part of it before moving to the UK in 2018. He targeted the same victim, a man in his 40s, for over a year, forcing him to act as his private chauffeur.

On 4 November 2025, after the victim got into a van, Panayotov made threats including that he would 'dismember him and split his head or his brains' and 'make him into a corpse'. He then punched, kicked and choked the man, who was left struggling to breathe and suffering from suspected fractured ribs. The victim was taken to a police station by a friend and disclosed the year-long abuse to police.

Panayotov also threatened to kill his landlord following a dispute over rent, during which he had been in arrears for twelve months. He admitted failing to comply with a section 49 notice by refusing to disclose a mobile phone PIN.

How it is being reported

• Bulgarian who killed his father jailed for attacking man he forced to chauffeur himA Bulgarian who killed his father in his native country before moving the UK threatened to “dismember” a man in Norwich who he forced to act as his private chauffeur.Eastern Daily Press · 15 Oct, 16:15
• Bulgarian who killed his father jailed for attacking man he forced to chauffeur himA Bulgarian who killed his father in his native country before moving the UK threatened to “dismember” a man in Norwich who he forced to act as his private chauffeur.Norwich Evening News · 15 Oct, 16:15

In this story: Boyko Panayotov · Norwich Crown Court · Bulgaria · Norwich

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