ROBERT PIECZYKOLAN ATTACKS WOMAN IN WORCESTER NEAR GROSANT AVENUE

On July 22, 2020, in Worcester, a disturbing incident unfolded involving a man named Robert Pieczykolan. The victim, a woman walking near an alleyway on Grosmant Avenue, was approached by Pieczykolan shortly after 4 pm. He initially engaged her by asking for the time, a common tactic used to establish contact. However, the situation quickly escalated when he suddenly snatched her mobile phone from her hand. In a violent act, he struck her across the head with the phone, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground in a nearby secluded wooded area.

Once on the ground, Pieczykolan did not stop his assault. He pinned her down and attempted to remove her jumper, during which he made a chilling remark, telling her that no one would come to her aid. The victim, terrified and desperate, screamed for help, fighting him off in a struggle that left her with scratches on her face and chest. Her cries for assistance attracted the attention of passersby, who intervened and forced Pieczykolan to cease his attack.

Following the incident, law enforcement was promptly involved. Pieczykolan was arrested and taken into custody. During his trial, he initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to sexual assault on the first day of proceedings. The court sentenced him to two years and nine months in prison and also issued a restraining order to protect the victim from further contact.

According to Georgina Hewins of the Crown Prosecution Service, this attack was particularly alarming because it occurred in broad daylight, highlighting the vulnerability of the victim. Hewins emphasized that despite Pieczykolan’s initial denial, his admission of guilt spared the victim from having to testify in court. She expressed gratitude towards the victim for her bravery and to the witnesses who acted swiftly to help her. The court acknowledged the profound psychological impact the assault had on the woman, noting her ongoing feelings of fear and discomfort around unfamiliar men. The judge remarked on her continued distress, underscoring the lasting trauma caused by the incident in Worcester.