Bruno Sala

Bruno Sala, a 39-year-old Portuguese national, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years at Portsmouth Crown Court for a series of shocking sex offences committed against three women in their 40s in Southampton and Portsmouth. The offences occurred between 2019 and 2021, during which Sala met the victims online through dating apps, established relationships to gain their trust, and then subjected them to horrific physical and sexual abuse, often employing violence and drugs to exert control.

Sala, who had previously been convicted of rape and was serving a 28-year sentence, viewed the women as possessions, offering them to other men for sex without consent. The court heard details of repeated attacks, including an incident where, after a woman refused sex, Sala declared himself 'her boss' before raping her. He also arranged for his friend, Edson Domingos, to rape one of the victims in Portsmouth, later deceiving the victim by claiming he had given permission and that it was not rape.

Detective Constable Nick Sandford-Smith from the Operation Amberstone East team described Sala and his accomplice as 'two very dangerous individuals'. He highlighted Sala's pattern of behaviour: 'Sala created situations in which he would meet a woman through a dating app and gain their trust, before revealing his true personality and subjecting them to truly horrific physical and sexual abuse.' Sandford-Smith praised the victims' courage, stating, 'These men have been brought to justice today because of the immeasurable bravery of these women, and whilst no sentence will ever truly be enough, I hope that seeing them put behind bars will be a step in the right direction towards rebuilding their lives.'

The case was investigated by Hampshire Constabulary, with the sentencing taking place at Portsmouth Crown Court. Sala, formerly residing on Middle Park Way in Leigh Park near Portsmouth, was charged with six counts of rape, one count of assault, and two counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.