Women’s aid group ‘appalled’ at covering up of previous crimes

A Women’s Aid group said it is “appalled” a Fife sex offender duped them into handing out a place at a refuge.

Katie Dolatowski, who identifies as female, gained access to the Leeds Domestic Violence Service (LDVS) earlier this year.

Dolatowski has convictions in Fife for attacking one child and filming another in supermarket toilets.

The sex offender has also admitted breaches of sexual offences notification orders.

Leeds Women’s Aid confirmed Dolatowski used a fake identity to hide those convictions to get into its LDVS.

A return to Scotland to face further charges resulted from the subsequent arrest on September 9 2022.

A statement issued by Leeds Women’s Aid (LWA) said: “The individual had used an identity and related official documents in the same name to access the refuge and in doing so they concealed their previous convictions for child sex offences.

“Once the person’s true identity and crimes were revealed, we alerted the police and the individual was taken into custody.

“At no time were we aware of their previous identity or crimes.

“LWA is taking this extremely seriously and we are undertaking a thorough investigation.

“We have not found evidence of any crimes having been committed during the period when the person was resident with us.

“LWA’S priority remains victims-survivors and we want all survivors to be able to access the support they need when accessing domestic abuse services.”

Nik Peasgood, LWA chief executive, said: “We are appalled that someone with such crimes could come to a women’s refuge using a different identity.

“We are aware that a criminal using authenticated identification could access any housing provider’s services and we are not unique in being manipulated in this way.

“We have informed children’s services and are working with our closest stakeholders, including Leeds City Council and Women’s Aid Federation England and will share any learning with our sector in order to improve safety of victims-survivors.”

There was outrage when it was discovered Dolatowski had been placed in a woman-only hostel.

They have since been convicted of breaching the terms of the resultant sex offender registration, including by travelling to Leeds.

Dolatowski had been placed in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution but lashed out at a fellow prisoner over “comments” made (see left).

The habitual offender will be sentenced for that next month and is currently incarcerated in all-female Cornton Vale.

The court also heard Dolatowski had been forced from the family home in Kirkcaldy.

Katie Dolatowski will be sentenced next month.