Basingstoke man avoids jail for grabbing 15-year-old’s breast

14/04/2023

On August 9, last year, the victim was walking through Festival Place with her friend when she was approached by Patryk Szczepaniak, walking in the opposite direction.

The 37-year-old held out a £20 note, which the victim took, and then Szczepaniak grabbed her breast “before laughing and walking away”.

Winchester Crown Court heard on Friday, April 14, that the victim described Szczepaniak as having a “grinning, flirty look on his face” as he approached.

Prosecuting, Tom Evans said that the teenager, who has autism, froze after the assault and became upset, before calling her sister.

“She told her sister what had happened, that she felt uncomfortable, scared and wanted to see her,” Mr Evans said. “On their way home they walked past the defendant who was outside Basingstoke train station. [The victim’s sister] called him a pervert and explained that her sister was only 15-years-old.”

On the same day, the victim’s mother went out looking for Szczepaniak and saw him go into a shop. CCTV from the shop was later used as part of a police appeal to identify him.

Szczepaniak handed himself in to police but denied touching the victim and instead said that the “girls smiled at him and he told one of them that they looked pretty”.

In a victim impact statement, the teenager said she was “shocked and disgusted”, adding: “It made me feel violated and embarrassed”.

In another statement, her mother said: “They (women and girls) should be free to come and go as they please without the fear of men.”

The court heard that since the sexual assault, the victim has struggled with her daily life, including getting the bus to college.

Szczepaniak, of Kingsclere Road, Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at an earlier hearing.

In mitigation, Alexander Goscimski said Szczepaniak is remorseful for his actions and apologises to his victim and her parents.

Mr Goscimski continued: “He recognises the position that he has put her in with no justification.”

Szczepaniak moved to the UK from Poland in 2007 but plans to move back as he and his partner are building a house there.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Dugdale said: “You were, in a sense, a model citizen until 9th August last year and it is very difficult to understand what on earth got into your head that day.

“The person whose breast you touched that day was a vulnerable person aged 15 and has autism. It means that your behaviour has had a significant effect upon her.”

The judge said for Szczepaniak this was “absurd and obscene momentary satisfaction” which has left his victim “severely damaged”.

Szczepaniak was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must complete 40 rehabilitation days and be on the sex offenders’ register.

He must also complete the Horizon programme for medium-risk sex offenders.

References

^{^} Caffe Nero in Basingstoke Festival Place closes (www.basingstokegazette.co.uk)
^{^} Hampshire police fails to meet response target ‘on too many occasions’ (www.basingstokegazette.co.uk)