'Dangerous' rapist recorded himself as he sexually assaulted a woman in her Rugby home - The Rugby Observer

'Dangerous' rapist recorded himself as he sexually assaulted a woman in her Rugby home

Rugby Editorial 1st Nov, 2021   0

A ‘DANGEROUS’ man who recorded himself as he raped a woman in her Rugby home by forcing her to perform a sex act on him has been jailed for 11 years.

Bartosz Sokolowski had pleaded not guilty to raping the woman – but following a ten-day trial, a jury at Warwick Crown Court took less that 90 minutes to find him guilty by a unanimous verdict.

Jailing Sokolowski, 37, of Shooters Close, Birmingham, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him he will have to serve two-thirds of the 11-year sentence before he can be released.

Sokolowski, who was found not guilty of assaulting his victim and of a separate sexual assault, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.




Prosecutor Talbir Singh had told the jury the case was about Sokolowski ‘imposing his violent and sexual will’ on his victim ‘in an unwanted fashion.’

He said that in 2019 Sokolowski, who also lived in Rugby at the time, was in the living room at the woman’s home where he had been drinking, when he slapped her and tried to strangle her.


Mr Singh said Sokolowski had told her he wanted her to perform a sex act on him.

“She refused, and he slapped her. He demanded it again, and again she refused and he slapped her.”

Sokolowski tried to force himself onto her, but she still refused to comply until, eventually, ‘she did as she was asked until he fell asleep.’

The woman then left and went to a friend who she told what had happened, and when they returned to her home and saw Sokolowski outside, they called the police.

When he was arrested he denied slapping her and suggested that bruising to her face had been the result of dental treatment – but Mr Singh said there was evidence that could not have been the cause.

Sokolowski also alleged in court that the rape allegation had been fabricated by the woman and her friend after he claimed he had rejected her advances towards him.

But the jury heard that after the incident Sokolowski had subjected her to degradation by sending her text messages in which he revealed that he had recorded what had happened.

Following the guilty verdict, Mr Singh said the woman had made a statement in which she said it took her six months before she could begin her life again.

Ian Windridge, defending, said: “There is no evidence that he recorded the incident, but he told her he had, so one has to assume there was a recording.”

And he added that Sokolowski had no previous convictions and was ‘a man who is capable of hard work,’ with an ex-partner and two children in Poland.

Jailing Sokolowski, Judge Lockhart told him: “We start, as we must, with the victim of your offending. She speaks of it being difficult to come to terms with what you did to her.

“She had to come here and have it put to her by counsel instructed by you that she had told lies and that she and her friend had fabricated the account, and even that she had been injured by her friend.”

Of the incident, the judge said that on that evening Sokolowski had gone out with the woman and they had then gone back to her home where he took drink and drugs.

“You then decided to assault her. You were behaving in an appalling way towards her. You grabbed her hair and forced her (to perform a sex act).

“On that night you behaved in a very dangerous manner. There was degradation and humiliation. I find you recorded the events, just as you said you did in the texts.

“In those texts we see what you now can’t admit, because you don’t have the guts to admit it, that you were sorry because you had raped her.”

Following the trial, investigating officer Det Con Matthew Kandt from Rugby CID said: “Understandably, this has been very traumatic for the victim and she has shown great bravery. I’d like to thank her for her courage and assistance throughout the investigation, and I’d also like to thank the team of officers and staff who worked on this case.

“Sololowski has now been convicted of this appalling crime and will face justice for his actions, and I hope this will help to give the victim some sense of closure.

“I hope this conviction will provide reassurance to other victims of sexual offences, and give them the confidence to report their ordeal in the knowledge that they will be listened to and supported. Police will always investigate and will do everything in their power to bring offenders to justice.”

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson added: “Anyone who has been the victim of a rape or sexual offence is encouraged to report the incident to police, where specially trained officers will help victims with care and sensitivity, and will work to get the right result for them with their wishes in mind.”

Visit https://tinyurl.com/2ub8n9mx for for more information and for a list of agencies and services in Warwickshire which can provide help, guidance or support to victims of rape and sexual assault.

 

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Rugby Observer.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Rugby Observer.