Court / Prison term for man who assaulted police in custody

A MAN who assaulted three constables at Lerwick Police Station has been sent to prison for six months.

Marcin Olejniczak, of Hill Grind, Lerwick, admitted carrying out the assaults at the station on 9 May.

The 42-year-old appeared from custody via video link at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court that the incidents happened after Olejniczak was arrested by police following investigations.

“He was clearly very intoxicated,” the fiscal said.

Officers removed his clothing, put him into a cell and gave him new clothing, but Olejniczak became “loud and very dramatic” and fell to the ground screaming, the court heard.

He assaulted one police constable by hitting him on the body.

Olejniczak then attempted to punch another constable on the body through the cell door hatch when the door was being closed.

He also punched another officer on the head through the hatch. No injuries were sustained in any of the incidents.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said it was his client’s position that “when he’s sober he is deeply apologetic for the way he has behaved with the police”.

He said at the time Olejniczak had some difficulty understanding why he had been taken into custody.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said Olejniczak’s behaviour was “wholly unacceptable”.

He said “police officers should not have to deal with this sort of conduct in any way” when they have someone in custody.

The sheriff gave Olejniczak a prison sentence of six months for each assault charge.

However, he said they were to run concurrently, meaning the prison term is six months.

The sentence was backdated to 11 May when Olejniczak first entered custody on the matter.