A man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for breaking into a woman’s house through her bathroom window and assaulting her – just days after being released from prison for another offence.
Lukasz Stanislaw Lewandowski (42) was found guilty of one charge of breaking and entering with the intent of committing a crime and one charge of common assault at a trial in November.
Last May, just days after he had been released from prison for another offence, Lewandowski went to the woman’s home, under the guise of picking up possessions he had left there on a previous occasion.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, said that Lewandowski “banged on the front door of the property and began to shout at the victim” but when he got no response, he left and spent the evening “drinking whisky and vodka”.
Crown Advocate Hall added that Lewandowski could be “volatile” after drinking and returned to the flat in the early hours of the following morning.
The court heard that he climbed onto a flat roof and into the house through the bathroom window, breaking its hinges and leaving behind dirty fingerprints and footprints in the same colour as the algae found on the roof.
The woman, who was there with a male friend she had asked to stay over as she was “afraid” of Lewandowski, called the police and stayed on the line with them as the two men got into an argument.
Most of the confrontation was recorded on a 999 call made by the woman, during which Lewandowski was “angry and threatening” and could be heard shouting: “Big boy you want to start with Lewandowski.”
The woman also recalled Lewandowski clenching his fists and threatening to kill both herself and her friend, Crown Advocate Hall added.
Lewandowski elbowed the woman in the chest causing a minor injury, which formed the basis of the assault charge.
Crown Advocate Hall said Lewandowski showed no remorse for his actions and had been assessed as not being suitable for probation service courses that could help him address alcohol and relationship issues.
Advocate Julia-Anne Dix, defending, said Lewandowski had a good character reference from his employer, who said he was “consistently reliable” and had a good relationship with customers.
Delivering the court’s sentence, Commissioner Alan Binnington, presiding, told Lewandowski that despite his good work, a lengthy jail sentence was unavoidable.
He said: “Regrettably, there is another side to your character when it comes to your personal life.”
Commissioner Binnington further criticised Lewandowski for attempting to blame the victim for his offending.
Lewandowski was jailed for three-and-a-half years for the breaking and entering, and one month for the assault, running concurrently. He was also given a five-year restraining order. Jurats Karen Le Cornu and Michael Entwistle were sitting.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Pippa Le Mottee said: “Lewandowski had never admitted or shown remorse for his actions, but the evidence was clear.
“We would like to acknowledge the courage and resilience shown by the victim throughout this process. Their determination to seek justice has been instrumental in ensuring this outcome.
“This case also highlights the importance of partnership working. We extend our thanks to our partner agencies for their invaluable assistance in supporting the victim and ensuring their safety during the investigation and court proceedings.”