A giggling woman who hit an elderly wheelchair user and then squeezed a shop worker’s testicles during an incident in Swindon has avoided prison – but could be deported.
Klaudia Staniszewska launched an unprovoked attack on an 88-year-old woman with dementia as she took a trip to The Brunel Shopping Centre with her son on 5 August this year.
The 28-year-old kicked a number of wet floor signs before running at her victim, bending down towards her and slapping her to the face, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday (6 October).
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said that the woman as left frightened, crying and shaking in her wheelchair, saying “why me, what have I done?” – as the defendant was chased by shocked shop worker.
Staniszewska seemed “amused and kept laughing and joking” as she was stopped. She started to thrash her arms around and several shop workers restrained her on the floor shortly before 5pm.
During the struggle, the defendant “forcefully grabbed” one of the shop worker’s penis and testicles before squeezing – causing the him “some pain and discomfort”.
Mr Ballinger said that the elderly victim’s son told of how the slap caused his mother’s head to “violently snap to one side” and she complained of back and shoulder pain the following day.
The man said that as a result of the “unproved and violent” assault, he “fears taking mother out to public places”.
Having been arrested, Staniszewska – in custody – told officers that she had been drinking at The Savoy pub and then at a man’s house before returning to The Savoy to drink more.
She said she had been drinking for two days and is normally happy when intoxicated, but believes she became angry because she was homeless at the time and had nowhere to stay.
Terry McCathy, defending, said his client “was appalled” when she was informed of her crimes “and still is appalled by what she did on that day”.
He said that Staniszewska expresses remorse for her behaviour and told the court that “things have improved for the better in the last few months” – adding that “she now has a roof over her head”.
Mr McCathy said her relationship with her mother and sister, who live in Swindon, had “not been very good”. He said the defendant is looking for work and “she would say this is an isolated incident”.
He confirmed that his client does not use drugs and has stopped drinking alcohol.
Magistrates imposed a 18-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity days and the requirement to complete 175 hours of unpaid work.
Polish Staniszewska, of Highworth Road, Swindon, was told to pay £100 compensation to each victim and was served with a deportation recommendation notice.
