Miroslaw Jozef Czapkowski (34) appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this week after having entered the same bar as the woman, as well as being “destructive” at her house, where he argued he was simply looking for his wallet.
The two-year restraining order was put in place in July alongside a nine-month probation order in relation to an earlier incident.
The court heard that Czapkowski breached the order this month when the woman was at the Royal Yacht having drinks with friends. One of her friends told her that there was a man staring at her. When she turned to look, she realised it was Czapkowski.
He was described as “intensely staring”, which “made her feel uncomfortable.” Later on, the woman went back to her house and found that someone had pulled up flowers at the property and turned off the electricity supply. The woman saw Czapkowski outside the property and he “said he was looking for his wallet.”
A Probation Officer said that this breach came as a consequence of “relapse [into alcoholism] and some very poor decision-making.”
Pictured: Miroslaw Jozef Czapkowski appeared in Court for breaching previously imposed Court orders by making contact with his ex-partner.
Czapkowski was represented by Advocate Martin Elks, who said that his client “thoroughly regrets his actions” and that it was a “foolish thing to do.” The defence Advocate also told Court that his client was making efforts to take control of his alcohol problems.
Having heard both sides of the case, Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said that he was “going to allow the probation order to continue”, but warned Czapkowski that, “if you breach it again, especially in this nature, you are very much risking going to prison.”
Although the Assistant Magistrate acknowledged that there was “no violence and no threats”, he described Czapkowski’s behaviour as “worrying” for the woman involved.
“You will not get another chance”, Assistant Magistrate Harris urged.
As well as these warnings, the Assistant Magistrate also imposed a binding over order for six months, which means that if Czapkowski commits any other offence during that period of time, the court will also have to take this incident into consideration.