December 10, 2018 12.30 pm This story is over 63 months old

Man jailed and facing deportation after sexual assault

It happened after a night out in the club
Krystian Grzonka pictured by Lincolnshire Police.

A man who chased down and sexually assaulted a Stamford woman has been jailed and faces deportation.

Krystian Grzonka, 20, followed the woman as she walked home from a club in the early hours of the morning.

He was sentenced to four and a half years in a young offenders institution but will remain on license for another four years.

Lincoln Crown Court heard how Grzonka followed his victim for several minutes and chased her down before he put his arm around her neck.

The terrified woman was then pinned to the floor before he put his hand up her skirt and top.

CCTV showed how Grzonka stood around before following the woman purposefully.

The woman was seen walking home alone before she was attacked in the Rutland Terrace area of Stamford, close to residential housing at around 3:30am.

Grzonka, of Andrews Road, Stamford, denied the sexual assault which happened on May 20 this year but was found guilty by a jury.

In a moving victim impact statement which was read out in court, the woman described how she would have to live with the consequences for the rest of her life.

She said: “Not a day goes by when I don’t think about what happened and I know it will be like that for a long time.

“Since the attack my life has changed dramatically, I spent the first three months unable to go out alone.”

The woman added that she now suffers from nightmares and panic attacks, and carries a rape alarm whenever she goes out.

She also fears Grzonka returning to the area after he is released from prison.

Mark Watson, mitigating, said the man carried out the offence spontaneously after seeing the woman.

The court was told Grzonka had no previous convictions and carried out the offence after visiting a Stamford nightclub.

Mr Watson added: “This had not happened before. Other than that night he has been a positive contributor since arriving in the UK in 2016.

“He came with his parents and brother, his parents returned to Poland, but he sought his own way.”

Grzonka, who denied the offence during interview and did not give evidence in his trial, now faces deportation.

Passing sentence Recorder Christopher Donnellan QC said he was troubled by the lack of explanation for Grzonka’s actions and regarded his offending as dangerous.

Grzonka was told that his victim had noticed him following her and began putting 999 in her phone but changed her mind because she thought she was being over sensitive.

Moments later Grzonka put his hood up and ran after the woman.

“She was scared and ran as fast as she could,” the Recorder added.