Drink fuelled row led to assault
SENTENCE on a Polish man who admitted assaulting a drinking companion to her injury has been deferred for reports until next month.
Appearing from custody before Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday morning, Marcin Olejniczak was told that he was likely to regain his liberty in June after having served five months in custody.
The court was all set for a jury trial when 34 year old Olejniczak changed his plea from not guilty to a charge of assault, injury and permanent disfigurement to guilty to the lesser charge of assault to injury.
The court heard that the finer details of the assault that took place at an address in Lerwick on 19 January were “far from clear” as a “lot of drinking had been going on”.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court that Olejniczak had punched the woman on her head during an argument over food.
He added that it was not clear whether she had sustained a four centimeter laceration on her forehead from the blow or a fall against some furniture. The cut required six stitches.
“What is clear is that her injury stemmed from his behavior,” he said.
Olejniczak was described as a man who was intelligent, polite and charming when sober but, unable to break free from his alcohol addiction, was a changed personality when drunk.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client took full responsibility for what had happened, in fact he had phoned the ambulance on the night in question and had waited until police had arrived.
He said his client had been in custody since 21 January and had taken steps to rebuild his life.
He told the court that Olejniszak plans to move to Aberdeen once released from prison and has already had contact with homeless charity Shelter who agreed to help him find accommodation in the city.
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He also might have the chance to enter the Phoenix Futures alcohol and drugs rehabilitation project at a later stage, Allan said.
Sheriff Philip Mann deferred sentence until 13 June to allow social workers to prepare a report recommending measures that needed to be put in place to protect the public from Olejniczak once he was released from prison.
The sheriff told Olejniczak that given his criminal record he was likely to impose the maximum of 12 months in prison.
However, as Olejniczak would have served almost half of that sentence at the time he is due to re-appear before the court, Sheriff Mann said he would eligible to almost immediate release thereafter.
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