A MAN strangled his “heartbroken” girlfriend after taking her phone and accusing her of cheating with a work colleague, a court heard

Mario Oliveira left his victim struggling to breathe during a violent attack inside her own home. 

The 34-year-old confronted the woman at her home in Botley and locked himself in the kitchen with her phone.

When he later grabbed hold of her arms she managed to break free, grabbing a knife before hitting him with the handle.

Oliveira of Edmund Road, Southsea then grabbed her neck with one hand and strangled her leaving her struggling to breathe.

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Falling to the floor, his victim banged her head before being pulled upstairs.

He then threatened to kill himself and the person he claimed she was cheating with, before leaving.

Prosecuting, Matthew Lawson told the court how the attack in September this year lasted for around 45 minutes with Oliveira being arrested soon after.

In a victim personal statement, his now ex-girlfriend said: “I find it very difficult to describe my feelings. My whole world turned upside down and inside out at the same time.

“I want him to get better. Nothing can excuse what he has done to me.”

She went on to describe him as the “love of [her] life” and the person who made her “feel safe and loved for nearly four years”.

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Mitigating, Peter Asteris added that Oliveira has no previous convictions and admitted the incident afterwards saying “I know that I have hurt her”.

“She is probably scared of me now.”

He described him as a man who “does all he can for those around him” saying that he is at a low chance of re-conviction.

But Judge Nicholas Rowland said that the victim had been left with a “broken heart” and that “it will take a very long time if at all for the emotional damage to her to be repaired. Goodness knows what was going through your mind”.

Oliveira had previously pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Rowland jailed him for ten months but suspended the sentence for 18 months.

He must do ten rehabilitation activity days and 180 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Rowland concluded: “You think long and hard Mario Oliveira about your behaviour in future.”

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