Tradie’s sinister threat after he bashed his ex-lover

• Victor Hugo Leao, 31, has pleaded guilty to domestic violence 
• He assaulted and threatened his estranged wife 
• For confidential support 24/7 call 1800 RESPECT

EXCLUSIVE 

A Brazilian tradesman in Australia on a partner visa bashed his estranged wife and threatened she would be taken out of the apartment in a ‘black bag’ after learning she had become a stripper.

Victor Hugo Leao, 31, tormented his ex-partner in a 30-minute campaign of terror at her apartment in Edgecliff, in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs, on April 25, 2023, after she left him. 

As he held her against the kitchen wall and screamed in her face, his ex-wife – who Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name – thought she was going to die. 

Leao’s brutal attack was finally interrupted by police officers after they were called by a neighbour who overheard the commotion.

Now, Leao’s horrendous actions can be laid bare after he pleaded guilty earlier this month to assault, sexual touching without consent, stalking and intimidation, and destroying property.

According to police facts obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Leao and his wife met in Brazil seven years ago before moving to Sydney and marrying in 2020. 

However, just two years later, in November 2022, their marriage fell apart and his estranged wife moved to Western Australia while he continued to live in their Edgecliff apartment, which was rented in her name.

Five months after the separation, she returned to Sydney to clean the apartment after Leao told her he was moving out.

But when she arrived at the property at about 1.30am, she realised the keys he had left for her didn’t open the front door.  

She contacted Leao and asked him to come over and give them to her.

When he arrived, he tried to force her into a conversation about their relationship while they were in the kitchen, according to the police facts.

His estranged wife said she didn’t want to talk and was tired and needed to clean – but Leao increasingly persisted, saying, ‘We are going to talk about this now.’

He then started berating her, claiming she had ‘lied to him’ and she was a ‘bad wife’ because she had begun working as a stripper in Perth since their separation. 

Leao called her a ‘whore’ and said she had ‘no dignity or respect’ before cornering her against the wall and slapping her twice across the face.

He then began prying about a visit she made to Brisbane and demanded she unlock her phone to show him details about the trip.

As she opened her phone, she quickly texted her boyfriend ‘help’ at 2.08am before Leao snatched it from her and began reading her messages to her new lover, destroying her screen protector in the process.  

He then began taunting her about her new profession – grabbing at her breast and shouting: ‘Is this how clients touch you in the club?’ 

As he continued yelling, he moved in closer towards her and threatened: ‘If the police come today you are going to end up in a black bag.’

Another resident in the unit block overheard the chaos and decided to call police, who rushed to the scene and separated Leao from his estranged wife before placing him under arrest. 

According to the police facts, the victim was ‘visibly distraught and crying’ and told officers that she thought he was going to kill her. 

At the time of the arrest, Leao was the subject of an unserved Apprehended Violence Order issued in a Perth court which was served once he was taken into custody in NSW. 

Appearing in Waverley Local Court earlier this month, Magistrate Michael Barko sentenced Leao to an 18-month Community Correction Order under the condition he comply with the AVO. 

The order started on May 17, 2024, and will remain in place until November 16, 2025. 

For confidential support 24/7, contact 1800 RESPECT