Guilty of sexual assault on female store manager

Rubbed himself against her and tried to kiss her

A shopper who sexually assaulted a female supermarket manager has been put on the sex offenders’ register.

Radoslaw Gadzinski admitted rubbing his body up against the shop worker’s as she helped him scan his shopping.

The Polish national then shocked her by walking round in front of her and bending down to kiss her just above her cleavage.

When she protested furiously he told her she was “cute” before going outside and picking a flower to present to her.

Gadzinski ( 28) of Morrison Way, Livingston, earlier pled guilty to sexually assaulting the woman at her work on September 18 this year.

The name and location of the supermarket can’t be revealed so the victim’s identity remains protected.

Paul Haran, defending, told Livingston Sheriff Court that the court normally dealt with people who were regularly in trouble with the law.

He said: “This is one of those occasions where, on the face of it, you have a decent person who has done a very, very stupid thing.

“Obviously the social work department have considered quite carefully a risk assessment given the nature of the offence but perhaps it’s overestimating risk.

“He has reiterated to me his complete disgust at the way he behaved. He’s very shameful and embarrassed and he has a great deal of appreciation for the very difficult position he placed the complainer in and the effect it will no doubt have had upon her.

“He hopes she’ll be able to move on from it quickly and that there won’t be any lasting effects for her. He’d like to apologise again.”

The court was told earlier that Gadzinski was with another man when he walked up to the self-service checkouts and asked the manageress to help him put through the items he was buying.

While she helped him scan the items she felt him brush against her left side. He then went round to her front and kissed her on the chest above her cleavage.

The woman was “shocked” by this and shouted at him: “Don’t touch me, don’t ever touch me!”

When she ordered him to leave the shop he turned and told her: “But you’re so cute.”

Gadzinski left the premises but returned five minutes later with a flower he had picked from outside the store.

The manageress told him: “You seriously need to leave the shop” and called security to escort him out.

The accused was later traced by police and gave a very candid interview in which he admitted the offence.

Officers said he appeared “very apologetic”. He made no reply to the caution and charge.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Martin Edington told Radzinski: “It appears to me you’re going to pay quite a heavy price for what was more than anything else an act of thoughtlessness or stupidity.”

He imposed the minimum period of community payback order comprising six months social work supervision and told Gadzinski his name would remain on the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

He highlighted concern that simply admonishing the accused for the low level offence would, under current sentencing rules, mean his name remaining on the register for a minimum of five years.

Gadzinski was ordered to give police personal information, including passport, credit card, and bank details and his national insurance number.

He must also notify the police if he plans to spend a week or more at another address in any 12 month period and tell them at least seven days before any foreign travel.

If he breaches the order he faces being prosecuted and, if found guilty, being sentenced to up to five years in prison.