Man avoids jail term after chasing woman

AMAN who left a woman terrified after chasing her down a street and grabbing her has been slammed by a sheriff.

We previously reported that Lukasz Wieczorek appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court following the incident on October 17 last year, but sentencing was deferred for a criminal justice social work report to be carried out.

He returned to the dock this week and was ordered to carry out 243 hours of unpaid work and be under social work supervision for 18 months.

Sheriff Patricia Pryce told him: “You’re this close to going to jail. Do you understand how terrified this woman must have been? Horrendous behaviour. Disgraceful.”

Prosecutor Ross Harris explained that the victim was getting out of her car on Cumbernauld Road, in

Haghill, when Wieczorek spotted her.

He said: “At 4.05pm the accused approached her vehicle and began to shout aggressively in a language she believed to be Eastern European. He put up his middle finger shouting ‘Islam’. The woman, who was wearing a headscarf, was fearing for her safety.

“She felt threatened and began to walk away. He followed and the woman sped up before breaking into a run.

“The accused ran after her briefly, taking hold of her right arm while waving a banknote and continuously shouting. She crossed the road onto a footpath and placed the railings between herself and the accused and proceeded to call 999 for police assistance.”

Meanwhile, a man passing by asked the woman if she was being harassed and went on to confront Wieczorek, who then entered a newsagent’s store before coming back out with a carrier bag.

Two people who witnessed him chasing the woman from their window came out to assist. They took her into their home for safety.

Wieczorek, of Haghill, loitered outside before returning to his own flat.

Mr Harris added: “He was arrested and conveyed to London Road police office. He was provided with a Polish translation service.”

Wieczorek’s lawyer said her client expresses “deep remorse”.

Sheriff Pryce said: “This is a horrific course of events. The complainer must have been terrified. This is a woman who was on her own and was chased. “You appear before me as a first offender and the social work report tells me you’re suitable for a community-based disposal.”

The community payback order was imposed as a direct alternative to custody.