Alcohol fuelled attack left woman needing stitches

A problem drinker who assaulted and injured a woman has been remanded in custody, after a court heard alcohol changed his personality.

Marcin Olejniczak repeatedly punched his victim on the head in a drunken attack.

The 34-year-old, whose address was given as Aberdeen Prison, launched the assault at a Pitt Lane address on 19th January.

Lerwick Sheriff Court today heard an argument had developed between the two over food.

The woman suffered a four centimetre cut to her forehead, which required six stitches.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the two had been in a “relationship of convenience” for two alcoholics.

“The sad thing about it is I have seen him in the past, both sober and drunk. He is clearly a man who is intelligent,” he told the court.

“He has an excellent grasp of English … he can be polite and charming when he is sober, but when he is drunk he is a very different person altogether.

“If he doesn’t do something about his drinking I think he will continue to find himself in these situations.”

Mr MacKenzie said it was “not clear” how the woman had come about her injury.

Olejniczak had maintained she had slipped on a duvet in the living room and struck her head against a television table.

“It’s almost impossible to say it was caused from the direct effect of his punches or a potential fall against a piece of furniture,” he said.

“What is clear is that she would not have sustained her injury, but for his aggression towards her.”

Olejniczak was due to stand trial before a jury today accused of causing his victim permanent disfigurement.

However he admitted a lesser charge of assault to injury when he appeared before sheriff Philip Mann.

Mr MacKenzie said Olejniczak had telephoned for an ambulance immediately after the assault and had given her as much treatment as he could to stop the flow of blood.

“He stays with her in the knowledge the police are coming,” he told the court.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Olejniczak had indicated being in custody may well have saved his life.

“When he is sober he is intelligent and he knows how badly off the rails his life has gone through alcohol.”

He added his client had been behind bars since 21st January – the equivalent of an eight-month sentence.

“There is maybe not a lot more that needs to be done in terms of imprisonment.”

During his time in custody Olejniczak has made contact with the housing charity Shelter, which is helping to house him in Aberdeen on his release.

“He understands the problem of being with similar people who have similar problems to him here,” Mr Allan added.

Sheriff Mann said Olejniczak may be a candidate for a supervised release order when he is liberated.

He ordered a background report to compiled, adding he would consider “structuring” his sentence in such a way which would allow Olejniczak his immediate release from custody when he returns to court.

“It’s clear from what’s been said that you have got a difficult problem with regard to drink, which changes your personality,” he told him.

Olejniczak will appear in court again on 13th June.