A 37-year-old Portuguese man who assaulted five girlfriends in the United Kingdom has been granted permission to continue residing in the country.
The British court deemed that there are “serious risks” of repeat offenses but allowed Hamilton Jorge da Silva Pinho to remain in the UK, where he immigrated with his parents in 2009 and where he has a child.
The assaults were so severe that in one instance, he threw an electric heater at one girlfriend and a steam mop at another.
The court also proved that Hamilton Jorge da Silva Pinho threatened one girlfriend with acid.
In 2019, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. After serving a year, he was initially set for deportation to Portugal. However, in 2023, he was allowed to stay in the UK due to the “emotional impact his deportation would have on his son,” although the child does not live with him.
His two-year-old son was born two months before his incarceration and lives with his mother, who is the primary caregiver.
The British Crown Prosecution Service has appealed the decision, and the case is under reevaluation, with the presiding judge admitting a potential “legal error.”
According to prosecutors, Hamilton exhibits a “deep-seated pattern of abusive behavior towards partners,” posing a “risk of serious harm to his child and future partners.”
Besides his 20-month prison sentence, Hamilton is subject to a restraining order against the victims until 2028.
In court, he faced charges of domestic violence, threats, theft, and property damage.
