Swindon man jailed for 21 years for 'sustained and brutal attack' against his girlfriend
22-year-old Sezwin Crasto from Broad Street previously admitted a charge of wounding
A man from Swindon who left his partner with life-changing injuries has been found guilty of attempted murder.
22-year-old Sezwin Crasto has been jailed for 21 years following a trial at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (27 July), after previously admitting a charge of wounding.
The assault against her has been described as 'sustained and brutal', after leaving her with life-changing injuries.
During the four-day trial, which ended yesterday, the jury heard how Crasto, of Broad Street, Swindon, attacked his girlfriend on the evening of 21 March last year, after she told him she wanted to end the relationship.
It was then described that he 'used a knife to slash her across the face and neck'.
Crasto must serve at least two thirds of his sentence behind bars.
"You went into an ungovernable rage"
In his sentencing remarks, Judge William Hart said: "You were a controlling, jealous and possessive boyfriend.
"You went into an ungovernable rage. It is almost certain that you first inflicted those savage wounds to her face. They were done deliberately. Intentionally. Not to kill her, but deliberately to disfigure her. Either to make her undesirable or simply to punish her.
"And then you used the weapon to inflict that dreadful wound to her throat. It was done with an intent to kill, as is explicitly found by the jury's verdict. But there was nothing other than immediate premeditation."
"An understandable and significant mental impact"
Detective Constable Victoria Barker, from Swindon CID, said: "The victim in this case had been in a relationship with Crasto for around a year, but during that time he had been incredibly controlling and possessive, isolating her from her friends and making threats to her if she failed to meet him or respond to his messages.
"On the day of the attack, she told him that she wanted to end the relationship, and in response, he had told her that he would not allow that to happen and carried out a violent attack on her.
"Her injuries were so significant that she was unable to speak. It was only thanks to the surgical care she has received in the months following the attack, that she is now able to use her voice once again.
"Aside from the physical injuries, there has also been an understandable and significant mental impact on her. She has shown incredible bravery in assisting us in our investigation, and I want to pay tribute to her."
Wiltshire Police urge victims of domestic abuse, including those subjected to controlling and coercive behaviour, to speak to someone about what is happening to them.
You can find more information, including contact details of charities and relevant organisations, here.