A BURGLAR who broke into a woman’s home in Monmouthshire and carried out a series of domestic tasks – including hanging out her washing – has been jailed for 22 months. Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, performed various chores during the break-in, leaving the victim a disturbing note which read: “Don’t worry, be happy, eat up and scratch.”
The unusual burglary took place on 16th July, when the victim returned home from work to find her washing hung on the line and items in the garden had been moved. Further investigation revealed her bird feeders had been refilled, plant pots shifted, and a pair of shoes unpacked and the packaging disposed of in the recycling bin.
Inside the house, more unsettling discoveries were made. Prosecutor Alice Sykes, speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, explained: “A meal had been cooked on the stove using ingredients from her cupboard. Shopping from a bag had been placed in the fridge, which had been rearranged, and the recycling bin emptied. Kitchen utensils were placed in the bin, and new ones from the shopping bag were laid out.”
Other peculiar actions included toothbrush heads being replaced, an empty wine bottle placed in a rack, and the floor mopped, with the bucket and mop left out. A bottle of red wine, alongside a glass and bottle opener, was also found, and a bowl of sweets had been placed on the living room table. The victim later spoke to her neighbour, who had noticed someone hanging out her washing earlier in the day.
A second burglary occurred on 29th July, when a homeowner received a CCTV alert showing Wojnilowicz walking on his driveway. This time, the defendant used the shower in the summerhouse, washed and cleaned his clothes, consumed food and drink, and left the hot tub in a dirty condition.
The victim’s son-in-law arrived at the property, where Wojnilowicz appeared intoxicated and was holding a glass. He was asked to leave, which he did, but was later arrested. His DNA was linked to the first burglary through fingerprints left at the scene.
In a victim impact statement, the first homeowner described her intense fear following the break-in: “Two weeks after the crime, until he was caught, I was living in a state of heightened anxiety I had never experienced before. 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 added that she was too frightened to stay in her own home, opting to stay with a friend for support.
The court heard that the second victim felt “sick, horrified, and useless” upon learning of the break-in at his home.
Wojnilowicz, who was of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. The court was informed that he had four previous convictions, including common assault, public order offences, and failing to surrender.
Defence lawyer Tabitha Walker explained that Wojnilowicz was homeless at the time of the offences and was experiencing significant difficulties in his life. She said he was remorseful for the distress he had caused to the victims.
Sentencing Wojnilowicz, Recorder Christian Jowett described the burglaries as a “significant intrusion” into the victims’ lives, before sentencing him to 22 months in prison.
