MARIO SASSANO FROM BIRMINGHAM SENTENCED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST GIRLFRIEND IN SUTTON COLDFIELD

A man from Birmingham, identified as Mario Sassano, has been handed a significant prison sentence after a series of violent and controlling acts directed at his girlfriend over a period of several months. Sassano, who resides in the Shard End area of Birmingham, began his abusive behavior shortly after the start of their relationship, which was based in Sutton Coldfield. His actions escalated during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, culminating in a brutal assault that left his partner with lasting physical scars.

According to court records, Sassano committed multiple violent offenses, including two separate assaults during the period from November 2020 to May 2021. The first assault involved him physically attacking his girlfriend, and the second was characterized by even more severe violence, including strangulation that rendered her unconscious. The attack was so severe that it resulted in permanent disfigurement, a testament to the brutality of his violence. In addition to these assaults, Sassano engaged in a pattern of controlling and coercive behavior, which was also part of the charges brought against him.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and to controlling behavior. The court heard emotional victim impact statements that detailed the profound psychological damage inflicted upon her. The victim described suffering from nightmares, flashbacks, and ongoing emotional trauma. She recounted how Sassano’s violence made her feel as though her life was in danger, and she expressed her despair at how she had been treated, stating, “He totally broke me as a person. I just want to be me again.”

Judge Avik Mukherjee described Sassano as a “violent bully” who caused both physical and emotional harm. The court also noted Sassano’s prior criminal record, which included a harassment conviction in 2017, indicating a pattern of threatening and violent behavior. The judge emphasized the serious risk of further harm if Sassano were to reoffend.

As part of his sentencing, Sassano was sentenced to a total of five years in prison. This included three years for the initial assault, two and a half years for the second assault, to be served concurrently, and an additional two years for controlling and coercive behavior, which will be served consecutively. Furthermore, Sassano was issued a restraining order that prohibits him from making any contact with his victim. Breaching this order could result in further imprisonment. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his actions and the ongoing danger he poses, highlighting the importance of protecting victims from such violent and controlling individuals.