MAN TOO SCARED TO GO HOME AFTER THREATS
AMONEY lender broke into a man’s house and assaulted him before demanding his bank card and PIN. He later threatened to make the victim’s daughter work as a prostitute in order to pay off his debt.
Edgaras Sinkus, 37, robbed Petras Kudriasovas after breaking into his house in Cardiff in December 2022 and threatening to “rip his head off ”.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the victim fled his home and spent time “living in bushes” and foraging food from bins due to his fear of Sinkus.
Prosecutor Rosamund Rutter said Sinkus and the victim were known to each other and Mr Kudriasovas borrowed money from the defendant. Interest was charged at a rate of £30 for every £20.
Between December 22 and 25, Sinkus barged into the victim’s address, turned the light on and immediately assaulted him. He said: “Now you get me your bank card and tell me your PIN now or I’ll rip your head off”.
Mr Kudriasovas gave him the bank card and the PIN but the defendant told him to get dressed and go outside. He was walked to Sinkus’ home and during the journey he was assaulted by the defendant.
When they got to the house, he was repeatedly assaulted by Sinkus, who told him: “I will make it so your daughter will have to work as a prostitute for the rest of your life to pay off your debt.”
The victim was allowed to leave at 5am without his bank card, but was too frightened to return home.
The offences came to light after Mr Kudriasovas spoke to a support worker in February last year, when he told her about the assault and they attended his bank to cancel his card. Around 20 transactions had been carried out by the defendant, to a value of £2,065. During those months, Mr Kudriasovas had been camping and looking in bins for food.
A complaint was made to the police, despite the victim’s fear of retribution, and Sinkus was arrested. His address was searched and £6,140 in cash was discovered. In interview, he accepted having lent Mr Kudriasovas money but denied breaking into his home, threatening him and assaulting him. He claimed he had been given the bank card and PIN number voluntarily.
Sinkus, of Whitchurch Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to robbery. The court heard he has five convictions for offences, including burglary, shoplifting, assault and fraud by false representation.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Kudriasovas said: “I was scared to go back to my home address and would only go back to charge my phone. I had to cancel my card and was afraid the defendant would find me and I was scared he would find out I had been to the police.”
In mitigation, Kirsten Murphy said her client suffers with depression and was battling mental health issues at the time of the offences. She said the defendant’s life was erratic, and he faced poverty for most of his life, both in his home country and in the UK. He also has a son with whom he wishes to reestablish contact.
Sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: “Mr Kudriasovas had a terrible frightening experience which changed the course of his life and caused him to flee from his home. He felt he couldn’t return and he was a vulnerable man with serious health conditions.”
Sinkus was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment, made subject to a restraining order for 15 years, must pay £2,065 in compensation and £3,230 in court costs.