Brantford, Ontario – A Brantford man with a history of violence against women has been declared a long-term offender during his latest sentencing in a Toronto court. Brendan Bananish, 37, has been convicted 10 times for assaulting women, with his most recent conviction involving the brutal stabbing of the mother of his four children in a Toronto motel room in 2020. The woman was left bleeding for 12 hours before she was discovered and taken to the hospital, where she spent 21 days recovering from 11 knife wounds, two spinal fractures, and a chest injury.
Justice Andrew Pinto, in his decision, noted the escalating brutality and violence of Bananish’s offenses in 2019 and 2020. He considered various reports and assessments, including a psychiatric diagnosis that highlighted a substantial risk of re-offending. Bananish, originally from Sault Ste. Marie, has a long history of criminal behavior, including assaults, selling crystal methamphetamine, and possessing illegal firearms.
Despite multiple court orders to stay away from former partners, Bananish continued to engage with various women in Brantford, often ignoring legal directives. In 2019, he was found in possession of an illegally modified semi-automatic rifle, and in 2020, he violated an order to stay away from his victim in Sault Ste. Marie, leading to the violent stabbing incident in a Toronto hotel room.
Reports indicate that Bananish has been diagnosed with possible schizophrenia and delusional disorder, expressing beliefs about satanic cults, pedophiles, and Freemasons. With a history of 29 convictions from a dozen arrests, including assaults on multiple intimate partners, the Crown prosecutor sought a long-term offender designation for Bananish, extending his supervision for up to 10 years post-release.
In a recent court decision, Justice Pinto approved the long-term offender designation for Bananish and sentenced him to seven years and three months in custody. With credit for time served, Bananish is expected to spend 24 additional months in a federal penitentiary. The long-term offender designation will remain in place for the next eight years, reflecting the severity of Bananish’s repeated and escalating violence against women.