AMAZON DRIVER JAILED FOR SEVERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THREATS TO KILL
A warped boyfriend subjected his partner to a terrifying campaign of violence and mental torture which ended with him promising to lock her under the stairs and leaving her to die.Fabio Silva, 34, even bought the locks, which arrived at the door after he had throttled her with a sheet.He told her it was her "lucky day" they didn't fit but still intended to kill her and would order some more, a court heard.The Amazon delivery driver subjected the woman to multiple brutal beatings during a three-year relationship dominated by his extreme jealousy and controlling behaviour.
His rage included punching, dragging, kicking and headbutting her while she was pregnant and after she had a baby.He regularly insulted her, monitored her movements, banned her from speaking to men, controlled her money, strangled her and looked up poisons on the internet.
His reign of terror only ended when she made a daring escape through the window.He was arrested after fleeing to Kent but told police he had only slapped her after she attacked him.
The truth was revealed when police checked the audio of a camera he had installed in the house to keep an eye on her.
It picked up chilling sounds of her final terrifying ordeal and was played in court.Silva, of River Drive, Cullompton, admitted multiple offences including intentional strangulation, ABH, controlling and coercive behaviour, threats to kill and false imprisonment.
He was jailed for six years with an additional four years on licence for public protection.The judge stated: "You have rigid attitudes to partners and seem to believe you are entitled to blind obedience.
You oversaw all aspects of your partner's life and appear to justify the use of violence and respond to even the slightest provocation within a relationship such as a lack of attention or disrespect."He also said: "I am driven to the conclusion you do pose a significant risk to members of the public, not least future partners."The prosecutor described how the victim, who was confident and financially independent in 2021, was completely transformed by Silva's control.
Her behaviour was monitored, and she was forced to delete contacts and restrict her social interactions.He conducted violent acts including pushing her onto a bed and stopping her breathing, kicking her while pregnant, refusing to take her to hospital, banging her head against a wall, and kicking her in the stomach after she gave birth.
Silva also searched online for topics like 'Is having friends important when you have a family?' and 'How to buy poison and nightshade.'The most severe incident happened recently in April, lasting hours, where he physically attacked her, repeatedly punching her and throttling her with a sheet until she lost consciousness.
When she woke, she could only move her lips as Silva threatened to kill her and declared she was his prisoner.
He planned to lock her in the stairs' cupboard, with the locks arriving but not fitting on the door, and said she would die inside while he played with their baby.
The audio of Silva's rage and threats was played in court, revealing his intent to commit homicide.He later took drastic actions, including changing her phone PIN, deleting footage, and fleeing the scene after she escaped through a window.
Police caught him on the M2 in Kent.
During the investigation, Silva expressed remorse; however, the judge doubted his sincerity, citing his "tyrannical and sadistic" attitude and the clear terror inflicted on his partner.Silva was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with a further four years on licence for public protection.
He is likely to be deported after serving two-thirds of his sentence and is banned from contacting the victim or returning to Devon.
Detective Constable Jay McGhie emphasized the force's commitment to combating violence against women and girls, thanking the victim for her courage.
The investigation's success highlights their dedication to justice in such cases, aiming to bring offenders like Silva to account and support victims' recovery.
