Bruno Claudiuo Sala, 39, previously of Havant, Portsmouth, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offences against three women. Sala, who had a prior conviction for a brutal sex attack, formed relationships with the victims via dating apps between 2019 and 2020. Initially presenting himself as gentle and loving, he bought gifts and even introduced the women to his children, but his demeanour soon changed dramatically.
The relationships quickly turned abusive, with Sala punishing the women for perceived slights through rapes and physical assaults. In one instance, he plied a victim with cocaine and alcohol before raping her while holding her face down in the drug. Another woman endured extreme humiliation at his hands. Sala expected the victims to engage in sexual activity with other men, including his accomplice Edson Domingos, and when they refused, he subjected them to further rape, assault, and degradation until they complied. This pattern of control and exploitation was central to the case, with Sala deriving pleasure from the harm he inflicted.
Prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Wessex presented compelling evidence, including witness testimony, phone data, and documentation of injuries, to dismantle Sala's claims that all sexual activity was consensual. He denied any violence towards the women. The trial took place at Portsmouth Crown Court, where Sala was found guilty on 7 August 2025 of five counts of rape, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, believing it would be committed.
Senior District Crown Prosecutor John Montague, head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit at CPS Wessex, stated: "Bruno Sala poses a significant danger to society. He did not see these women as people – he saw them as objects he could use, humiliate and dominate." Montague further noted: "Sala took pleasure in knowing the extreme harm he was causing these women, and others, like Domingos, took advantage of their vulnerability for their own sexual gratification." The victims' courage in testifying despite their trauma was commended, contributing to the successful prosecution.
Sala and his accomplice are scheduled to be sentenced on 1 October 2025 at Portsmouth Crown Court. This case underscores the CPS's commitment to securing justice in cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.