Two Men Jailed for Sexual Offences in Portsmouth and Southampton
A man has been jailed for life and a second man sentenced to 15 years in prison for offences including rape in Portsmouth and Southampton.
Bruno Sala, 39, of Portuguese nationality and previously of Middle Park Way in Havant, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court today to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years, for six counts of rape, one count of assault, and two counts of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence.
The offences took place between 2019 and 2021 and were committed against three women in their 40s. An investigation by the Operation Amberstone team found that Sala had met the women online and began relationships with them. During these relationships, he abused and raped the women, often using violence to control them or drugs as part of the offending. In some cases, Sala subjected the women to repeated rape and abuse.
On one occasion, when a woman refused consensual sex, Sala told her he was “her boss” before forcing himself on her. He also arranged situations for a second man, Edson Domingos, to rape one of the women. Sala later told the woman that his friend had not raped her, as he had given him his “permission.”
Edson Domingos, 41, of UK and Angolan nationality and formerly of Elm Grove in Southsea, was sentenced at the same court to 15 years imprisonment, plus three years on licence due to dangerousness, for two counts of rape.
DC Nick Sandford-Smith from the Operation Amberstone East team described the men as highly dangerous:
“What has been very clear from the testaments of the women who have suffered at the hands of these men, and from our subsequent investigations, is that they are two very dangerous individuals.
Sala, who is currently already serving a 28-year jail sentence for a previous rape conviction, 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.
He viewed these women as his possessions and felt that he could do with them whatever he so pleased, including offering them to other men for sex without their consent. Sala enabled Domingos to help him continue this abhorrent abuse, carrying out despicable crimes against another human being.
The details of their actions are truly sickening and some of the most abhorrent behaviour I have ever come across.
I cannot commend the women who have stood up to these two men enough. The strength and resilience shown by all in both reporting to us, and in seeing this through the courts, is incredible.
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.”
Police have encouraged anyone affected by sexual assault or rape to contact them via 101, where they can speak to an officer in confidence. For those not ready to speak with police, specialist support services are available. More information can be found on the Hampshire Police website: Support for victims of rape and sexual assault.
Pictured below L-R: Bruno Sala, Edson Domingos
