Jail for attacker who told woman it was "her fault"

Tuesday 18 April 2023

A 36-year-old who punched and strangled a woman in two separate unprovoked attacks - and told his victim that it was "her fault" - has been jailed for 16 months.

Piotr Sebastian Sokolowski - who has also been recommended for deportation - was sentenced last week in the Royal Court.

The assaults happened four days apart, with Sokolowski incorrectly accusing the woman of taking money from him on the second occasion.

Crown Advocate Simon Crowder, prosecuting, told the Royal Court: "He punched her face, at least three times, and then grabbed her neck with both hands.

"She described the assault as 'very hard, with a lot of force', such that the defendant tore the T-shirt she was wearing. She was scared."

Pictured: Sokolowski was sentenced in the Royal Court on Friday.

Following the grave and criminal assault, the victim sent a text message to a friend to ask the Police to attend the address.

Advocate Crowder said Sokolowski initially pleaded not guilty at appearances at the Magistrate’s Court and Royal Court, and did not "fully take responsibility for his actions".

He called for a sentence of 18 months, a recommendation for deportation and a restraining order preventing Sokolowski from contacting the victim.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, said it had taken Sokolowski "some months to face his demons, but face them he has and he will accept the punishment of the court".

He recommended that his client be given a community sentence, as well as a restraining order, adding that Sokolowski had been remanded in custody for nearly eight months by the time of sentencing.

Advocate Baglin argued that a community order would not be a "soft option", adding that despite his client entering a late guilty plea, it should be "still be of value and should be given mitigation" by the court.

At the hearing on Friday, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, presiding, said that the victim was "left feeling low and afraid after the assaults on her".

"On the account of your counsel, you are remorseful. We think that is a recent declaration of remorse. Such offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified," he said.

He noted the "general abhorrence of such conduct" and the need to deter others from such "grim offending".

Sokolowski was sentenced to 16 months in prison, an indefinite restraining order from the victim and a deportation order following his sentence.

Jurats Steven Austin-Vautier and Andrew Cornish were sitting.