A MORAY FACTORY worker landed up in court this week after a night out in which his actions left a teenage girl hysterical with fear.
Patryk Polewski, 32, was reappearing at Elgin Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously admitting that he had followed 19-year-old Ellie Thain from a pub, touching and staring at her and causing her to suffer fear and alarm in Buckie on March 15.
The court was told by Fiscal depute Ruaraidh MacAllister that Miss Thain had left Sandison’s bar in the town at around 12.30am and while walking along the street she sensed she was being followed. He added: “When she turned around the accused was approximately two steps behind her.”
After continuing to follow at an “uncomfortably close distance” Polewski grabbed Miss Thain by the arm and caused her to scream. Later in the same evening Miss Thain returned to the bar and when she saw Polewski on the dance floor she reported her earlier experience to staff.
In his defence solicitor Stephen Carty said his client accepted the incident as being “extremely upsetting” for Miss Thain, adding that Polewski grossly misunderstood what appeared to be happening between himself and the teenager.
Sheriff David Hall fined Polewski, whose address was given as 49 East Church Street in Buckie, £500 and ordered that he carry out 150 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay Miss Thain £500 in compensation.