Bolton woman bit friend's chin for 2 minutes after affair with husband

Flavia Fernandes, aged 41, ripped the flesh off Gabriela Cordeiro's chin in an attack on June 5, 2022. 

Having previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, Fernandes, of Chorley Old Road, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on February 12. 

Katie Walden, prosecuting, said: "The victim of the offence, Gabriela Cordeiro, is married to Pedro Cordeiro. Gabriela has known the defendant for many years. The two women had been friends.

"However, some years ago Gabriela discovered that the defendant had been having an affair with her husband." 

The two women made up "to a large extent" and remained "reasonably friendly". 

More recently, however, Mrs  Cordeiro discovered the defendant and her husband had been sending each other "inappropriate messages" and their relationship soured again, before putting their disagreements behind them. 

However, in May 2022, Mr Cordeiro told his wife that Fernandes had threatened to "hit Gabriela" because she had heard she had been "disrespectful" to her. 

Ms Walden said: "At around 11am on Sunday 5th June 2022, Gabriela parked her car in the car park of St Thomas Church, which she was due to attend for a Sunday service. 

Flavia Fernandes (Image: GMP)"After exiting her car, she was confronted by the defendant who said 'I am here just to hit you'. The defendant pushed Gabriela to the floor, then jumped on her, sat on Gabriela's stomach and repeatedly punched her. 

"Gabriela attempted to push her off. During the confrontation, the defendant leaned into Gabriela's face and bit her on her chin, holding her bite for approximately two minutes. 

"She only stopped after part of Gabriela’s skin had been ripped out. Gabriela says that she could feel and hear the ripping of her skin." 

Mrs Cordeiro then got up and walked towards the church, off Gisburn Street, but was approached again by Fernandes, who pushed her to the floor for a second time and punched her again, before members of the church intervened and separated them. 

The police were called and Mrs Cordeiro was taken to hospital - her glasses were also broken during the assault, which took place in front of her children. 

Ms Walden read out the testimony of a nurse, who described her wounds. She said: "Mrs Cordeiro suffered a deep gaping wound, 2cm in diameter, on the base of the chin. Closed with two deep and three outside sutures.

"Tetanus and hepatitis boosters were given, along with antibiotics." 

A photo taken in August 2023 also showed that she had a visible scar following the attack. 

Mrs Cordeiro's injury
A victim impact statement given by Mrs Cordeiro said: "I feel sad and I feel that I have been abused. 

"My chin required stitches, and at this moment I have a plaster to the face, I feel awkward walking around. 

"Sometimes I get flashbacks to what happened, it makes me upset to the point I cry." 

Defending, Martin Pizzey said: "Ms Fernandes accepts responsibility, she knows what she did was wrong. 

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"When she arrived at the scene, it was with no intention of causing any harm. She did not believe she was going to resort to violence."

Mr Pizzey told the court Fernandes said Mr Cordeiro has "behaved as he has wished, irrespective of his marriage". She also claimed that he harassed her, and she "complained to the police" about this. 

He added: "What took place was an unpleasant situation. It was an impulsive action on her part. 

"The complainant tried to bite the defendant's nose, it appears she did, and the defendant herself suffered as a consequence and had medical attention, plastic surgery. 

Mrs Cordeiro

"She is a single mother with three children, one of which has down's syndrome. 

"There is an absence of criminal history of any description." 

Paraphrasing the testimony of one of her children's schoolteachers, Mr Pizzey added: "She is a dignified, hard-working single mum looking after three children, making sure they are clean and tidy and able to go to school on time." 

Concluding, Judge Jon Close said: "I accept that whilst you went to confront the victim, violence of this level, or violence, was not your intent. 

"But upon arrival however, violence did very soon erupt, where she was attacked in front of her own children, where she was punched and taken to the ground, but more particularly, she was bitten. 

"It is not simply that you are a person of good character, you are clearly devoted to your family, your children, and you give your time unoffered to others, and I accept that your actions that day were totally out of character. 

"You are clearly a very good mother, devoted to your children, a low risk of reoffending and this will be your first experience of custody." 

Judge Close sentenced her to 25 months' imprisonment, as well as a five year restraining order not to contact Gabriela Cordeiro. 

As her sentence was read out, Fernandes had her head in her hands and cried as she was led away.