Man slit his own throat in court
Asex attacker who slit his own throat while in the dock awaiting sentence has admitted taking a kitchen knife into a magistrates’ court.
Lukasz Robert Pawlowski, 33, stabbed himself in the throat at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in Pembrokeshire on January 11.
He appeared at Swansea Crown Court via video link where the judge said there was no indication that he had intended to hurt anyone else with the weapon.
Judge Paul Thomas said he did not want to send Pawlowski to prison.
“Breaching court security is a serious matter,” he said. “The reality is he had already been punished for that; he had been in custody for the equivalent of a three-month sentence.”
Of Pawlowski entering the court with the weapon, he added: “Why it [the knife] was not picked up is an entirely different matter.”
Judge Thomas added that he needed a report on the defendant to assess why he did what he did but that “unfortunately” one could not be prepared for two weeks.
Witnesses were shocked when Pawlowski, of Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, started making “frantic jabs” at his neck after returning to the dock from going to the toilet.
A reporter, who asked not to be named, said: “The defendant was in the dock for a sentencing hearing when he attracted his solicitor’s attention to ask to be allowed to go to the toilet. He returned to the dock very quickly, remained standing then muttered something through the glass. Suddenly everyone in the courtroom turned as he made stabbing motions at his neck.”
Paramedics were called and Pawlowski was airlifted to hospital.
Pawlowski had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault by grabbing and kissing a shop assistant.
Pawlowski was remanded in custody to appear before the court for sentence on March 6.