Manchester man jailed for violent New Years attack on former partner

Antonio Francitti, of Bowdon, Greater Manchester, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 14 February where he was sentenced to 26 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of intentional strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm.

During Francitti's hearing, the court was told he had been in a relationship with the woman between 2021 and 2024, with the victim making several attempts to separate from him in the twelve months prior to his attack.

Francitti was desperate for the victim not to leave him and went to great lengths to manipulate her into staying with him: buying her expensive items, regularly following her and checking in on her location to see who she was with and accessing her mobile phone activity to the extent where the victim resorted to speaking in code when messaging her own family.

Officers then attended the scene to speak to the victim, who disclosed that she felt obliged to join Francitti for several nights in London over the New Years period.

Returning to their hotel in the early hours on Wednesday 1 January, Francitti became violent, grabbing her around the neck with considerable force and used his other hand to cover her mouth and nose. This caused a large amount of bruising and swelling to her nose and mouth area and due to the pressure on her neck, she fell unconscious.

She also recalled being on the floor of her hotel room at some point during her semi-conscious state and being dragging her backwards face down, causing severe carpet burns and further facial bruising and swelling.

Upon regaining consciousness, the victim immediately wanted to return home, but Francitti refused to let her out of the hotel room, expressing concern that questions may be asked regarding how she sustained her injuries.

Eventually returning to Cheshire that day, the victim disclosed to her family the circumstances of what had occurred and officers were subsequently called. The victim was initially hesitant of reporting the incident to police, through fear of repercussion, but she was supported by her family and eventually came round to doing so.

The victim showed officers the extent of her injuries, which included two chipped teeth, bruising and swelling to both eyes, forehead and cheeks, and an injury to her left ear where her earring had been pulled out.

Officers subsequently attended the home of Francitti in Bowdon, Manchester, and arrested him. Whilst under caution, Francitti denied the offences put to him during his interview.

Despite this, Francitti was charged with two counts intentional strangulation and assault causing actual bodily harm and pleaded guilty to them on his first appearance Warrington Magistrates' Court on Friday 3 January 2025.

Following Francitti's sentencing, Inspector Matt Chapman, of the Area Investigations Team, said:

"No one should have to endure the kind of violent behaviour that Francitti subjected his victim to. His violent rage left his victim scared of coming forward and disclosing what he had done to her through fear of repercussion, even as going so far as to create a narrative to cover for his actions.

“Despite this, thanks to the bravery of the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Francitti will now be held accountable for his actions.

“The process of coming forward and disclosing to your family and police the abuse you have endured can be incredibly difficult and upsetting. I would extend my thanks and commend her bravery and courage in recounting everything that had occurred over that 48-hour period that helped us secure a conviction against man who made her life a misery for well over a year."

If you, or someone you know, are a victim of domestic abuse please report it by calling 101 or visiting www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us. In an emergency always call 999.