MAN STALKED HIS EX-BOYFRIEND BEFORE ATTACKING HIM WITH A HAMMER AND KNIFE AND THREATENING TO PERFORM A VASECTOMY ON HIM HAS BEEN JAILED.
Antonio Puccini, who was previously known by the name Mohammed Khan, deceived his student partner, whom he met online, into believing he was a glamorous model leading an exciting lifestyle.In truth, he resided in his parents' home in Birmingham.
After the victim ended their relationship, Puccini researched violent acts such as 'how to castrate' before unlawfully entering his student's accommodation in Leeds.
There, he attacked the victim, leaving him severely injured, as heard in court proceedings at Leeds Crown Court.
Puccini, aged 24, was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years.
The court was informed that initially the victim was quickly and deeply convinced by Puccini's fabricated persona, which included claims of being an international model who graced the cover of Australian Vogue.
Over time, friends of the victim grew suspicious, noticing inconsistencies in Puccini’s stories and uncovering evidence of his Nazi sympathies, which was particularly alarming given the victim’s Jewish heritage.
Following their breakup, Puccini, who legally changed his name in 2024, bombarded the victim with threatening calls and messages warning he would 'regret it.' Investigations revealed Puccini’s phone search history contained alarming phrases like 'hammer hit to head,' 'does Leeds Bradford Airport have anywhere to throw a knife away,' 'painless death,' and 'the power of raping someone.' On the day of the attack, Puccini covertly entered the student’s accommodation in Leeds by convincing him he had forgotten his ID and a ring.
Prosecutor Robert Stevenson described how Puccini initiated the assault, pulling the victim’s mouth with force, so much so that he believed his jaw was dislocated.
Puccini then restrained and gagged him with a shirt, claiming he had a gun.
He struck the victim with a hammer, causing blood to spatter everywhere, the court heard.
Puccini stated he intended to perform a vasectomy.
When the victim pretended to be unconscious motived by thoughts of his parents the attacker eventually fled.
The victim managed to alert a neighbour, and Puccini was arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport after discarding the weapon, although he had sent sexually explicit videos of the victim to his family.
Initially denying any connection, Puccini later claimed the attack was in self-defense.
He resides on Heath Road in Birmingham, and in February, he was convicted of attempted murder.
