What Disturbing Break-In Did the Woman Discover?
In an odd turn of events, a woman found her house had been broken into by a burglar who not only hung her washing but also stored her groceries and made dinner on her stove. Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, was sentenced to 22 months in jail at Cardiff Crown Court for carrying out this extraordinary Monmouthshire burglary on July 16.
The victim said she felt scared in her own house after getting home from work and seeing her recycle bin empty and objects scattered on her lawn. She asked in her victim impact statement: “I wondered if it was somebody who knew me if it was going to turn into a stalking incident if he knew I lived alone and if I had been targeted?” She was “too scared to stay in my own home and stay with a friend,” the burglary disturbed her.
What Disturbing Note and Home Alterations Were Involved?
“Don’t worry, be happy, eat up, and scratch,” the burglar said, leaving a message for the woman. The court noted that the intruder had also moved several plant pots about the yard and replaced bird feeders. Two sneakers had been taken out of their box and dumped in the recycle bin inside the house.
Prosecutors included more specifics regarding the unusual events. “A dinner had been made from the woman’s pantry contents. Shopping had been taken from a bag, put in the refrigerator, and rearranged. Apart from that, fresh groceries from the shopping bag were arranged on the counter while cooking tools had been dumped in the bin.
“An empty bottle of wine had been placed in a rack after being drunk,” it said, “and the floor had been cleaned with a mop and bucket left out.” The victim also observed a bottle opener, red wine placed next to a glass on the living room table, and a bowl of cookies. The woman spoke with a neighbor who had seen someone hanging about that day.
How Did the Victim Cope After the Incident?
“Two weeks after the crime, until he was caught, I was living in a state of enhanced anxiety I had never experienced before,” the woman said in her victim statement. Her physical environment was invaded as well, and the break-in permanently changed her psyche.
On July 29, another house was broken into twice. The male owner got a CCTV alert on his phone showing Wojnilowicz strolling in his driveway. The defendant cleaned his clothes in a summerhouse using the shower. Food and wine were consumed during this break-in; the hot tub remained unclean.
When the victim ordered his son-in-law to look over the property, they discovered Wojnilowicz slumped and clutching a glass. The burglar was nabbed later even though he complied when asked to leave. Fingerprints from the first property he had trespassed upon revealed his DNA. After learning his house had been broken into, the male victim expressed his sense of violation as follows: “sick, horrified, and useless.”
What Defense Was Offered and What Was the Sentencing?
Defending Wojnilowicz, Tabitha Walker said her client was homeless at the time of the offenses and was dealing with a lot of problems. She pointed out that he was sorry to the victims and for the damage he had done.
Emphasizing the gravity of the violation, the judge said during the sentence, “This was a significant intrusion in their homes.”
Wojnilowicz, without a permanent residence, admitted guilt on two counts of burglary. He has four past convictions for different crimes, including failing to surrender, public order offenses, and common assault, the court noted.
