A man who brutally assaulted his housemate with a truncheon and a broken plate has proclaimed his innocence outside court, stating 'I'm not a criminal.' Robert Trandafir, a former Ocado delivery driver, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of wounding without intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
The Attack
The incident occurred on October 25, 2024, at a shared home on Greyhound Farm Road in Speke. Trandafir and his victim, Sergio Dolbneac, had lived together for about 12 months. On the day of the attack, an argument erupted over a chair not being placed under a table. Trandafir allegedly shouted insults about Moldovans before threatening violence. Mr. Dolbneac retreated to his bedroom but later emerged when things quietened down. As he passed Trandafir's room, the defendant punched him, grabbed his neck, and dragged him to the ground.
Trandafir then retrieved a telescopic truncheon from his car and repeatedly struck Mr. Dolbneac in the head. During the struggle, a mirror broke, and Trandafir attempted to stab his victim with a shard of a shattered plate. He stopped only upon seeing Mr. Dolbneac bleeding heavily. The victim contacted their landlord, who called the police. Mr. Dolbneac was taken to Aintree Hospital, where he required a CT scan for a concussion and staples for a head wound.
Defense and Sentencing
In court, Trandafir claimed self-defense, alleging his victim was the aggressor. His defense lawyer, Simon Mills, highlighted Trandafir's troubled background: a childhood of abuse in Romania, homelessness at 13, self-harm, and a serious car accident in 2021 that worsened his mental health. Mills argued for a suspended sentence, noting Trandafir's lack of prior offenses and steady employment.
Judge Brian Cummings KC sentenced Trandafir to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 300 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement, and a 12-month mental health treatment order. The judge noted the seriousness of the offense but acknowledged the defendant's previous good character and potential for rehabilitation.
Aftermath
Outside court, Trandafir smiled and gave a thumbs-up to cameras, insisting, 'I'm not a criminal. I'm convicted, doesn't mean I'm also guilty.' He criticized the legal system for not allowing a lie detector test for his victim, adding, 'Nobody believes me, and they think I'm the criminal.'
