A Manchester man has been jailed for violently assaulting a former partner at a hotel in the early hours of New Years Day.

Antonio Francitti (63) of Bowdon, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, 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.

The court heard how Francitti had been in a relationship with the woman between 2021 and 2024, but she had made several attempts to separate from him in the 12 months prior to his attack.

Francitti (pictured) was desperate for the victim not to leave him and manipulated her by buying her expensive items, following her 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 Year period.

Returning to their hotel in the early hours on January 1, Francitti became violent, grabbing her around the neck with considerable force and used his other hand to cover her mouth and nose, causing bruising and swelling. 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.

The victim showed police 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.

Inspector Matt Chapman 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.”