BRANTFORD, ONTARIO – A man from Brantford, Ontario with a history of assaulting women has been declared a long-term offender after his most recent sentencing in a Toronto court. Brendan Bananish, 37, has accumulated 10 convictions for assaulting women, leading to this designation by the court.
In a disturbing incident, Bananish stabbed the mother of four of his children multiple times in a Toronto motel room in 2020 and left her to bleed out. It took the victim 12 hours to reach a hallway where she was found and taken to the hospital. She spent 21 days in the hospital with 11 knife wounds, two spinal fractures, and a chest injury.
Justice Andrew Pinto, in his decision, noted the escalating level of violence in Bananish’s offenses in 2019 and 2020. During a hearing, Pinto reviewed various reports, including a psychiatric diagnosis indicating a substantial risk of re-offending by Bananish.
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Bananish moved to Brantford as a teenager and continued a pattern of heavy drinking that started at a young age. His criminal record began in 2006 with assaults and numerous breaches of orders, including a violent incident involving a semi-automatic rifle in his possession in 2019.
Despite sentencing for possessing the illegal firearm, Bananish’s criminal activities continued. In 2020, he defied orders to stay away from his victim and ended up attacking her in a Toronto hotel room under the delusion that she had harmed his children.
Bananish’s actions were fueled by possible mental health issues, with reports indicating a diagnosis of schizophrenia and delusional disorder. The court sentenced him to seven years and three months in custody as a long-term offender, with an additional 24 months to serve in a federal penitentiary upon release.
The long-term offender designation will follow Bananish for eight years, providing supervision and support for reintegration into society. This case highlights the serious consequences of repeated violent offenses and the importance of addressing underlying mental health issues in the criminal justice system.