Man threw chair and threatened his partner with knife during row

Published 9 Feb 2012 08:00

A MAN threw a chair at his partner and threatened her with a knife during a dispute at their home, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

Krzysztof Wieliczko (35), of Craigview, Sauchie, pled guilty to assaulting his former partner on 19 September 2011 and presenting a knife before her.

On Thursday the court heard that Wieliczko and his former partner had been in a long-term relationship and that they had a 10-year-old daughter together.

Depute fiscal Sue Ruta said that the altercation had taken place after the accused became annoyed with his partner, due to the time she arrived back at their home in Hillview Terrace.

She said, "On the 19 September the complainer, the accused's partner, had gone to visit a family member and was told by the accused to be back at a certain time, 10 o'clock, and she was then telephoned by the accused shortly before 10 o'clock telling her to come home."

When she arrived home at around 10.30pm Wieliczko was said to be bad-tempered.

Ms Ruta continued, "When the complainer arrived home the accused was disgruntled. When she arrived home she was sitting in the living room and the accused went into the kitchen which adjoins the living room."

The door between the two rooms was left open and the accused picked up a dining chair which he threw at his partner who had to "dodge to avoid being hit by the chair."

She managed to swerve the chair which hit the couple's dog and the action was witnessed by their daughter.

On her asking him to leave her alone, Ms Ruta said he "opened the kitchen drawer, removing a knife" which he presented to her, again in front of their daughter who asked him to leave her mum alone.

He then returned the knife and the complainer and her daughter fled the property, seeking refuge at a relative's home, and the accused was picked up by police at 11.30pm from his house.

On being cautioned and charged he said, "I don't know why this happened. I'm sorry." He said he remembered arguing but did not recall the knife or the chair.

Defending George Higgins said that when the accused went over matters he accepted the situation and accepted that his relationship was over - although he is now in contact with his daughter.

He was said to have little recollection of some parts of the night but accepts that is what happened and Mr Higgins said that there were difficulties in the relationship which was in a "down-ward spiral" and that this had contributed to the situation.

In sentencing Sheriff Richard McFarlane said, "This must have been a terrifying ordeal for your former partner, and the aggravation of your daughter witnessing you throwing a chair in the direction of your former partner and then sourcing a knife and presenting it at your partner."

He said that all the components merited a custodial sentence but that he was prepared to give a community payback order of 150 hours to be completed within nine months, supervision for two years and a conduct requirement for good behaviour over two years.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 08 Feb 12

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