Gangster who bullied model girlfriend until she suffered brain damage trying to kill herself is jailed for nearly five years

John Gizzi, 55, has been jailed for four years and 11 months after admitting coercive and controlling behaviour towards his girlfriend, Natasha Farah, and strangling her sister. The court heard that his repeated abuse and violence contributed to Farah’s suicide attempt, which left her with severe brain damage.

Gizzi controlled what Farah wore, accused her of infidelity and assaulted her on several occasions, including in public. He also sent messages urging her to take her own life and threatened to kill her; her sister was attacked when she tried to intervene. Farah is now unable to move or speak, her sister told the court. The judge described the case as among the worst examples of coercive control in domestic abuse.