Dominik Szymanski raped and beat the woman at his flat before stealing her dog. She was found dead the day after giving evidence against him
A SWANSEA man has been jailed for 16 years after raping and assaulting a vulnerable woman he had met only hours earlier.
Dominik Szymanski, 47, attacked the woman at his flat in Matthew Street, Swansea, after the pair met in the city centre on September 2 last year.
Swansea Crown Court heard both had their dogs with them when they began talking, before going back to his nearby flat.
Once inside, Szymanski subjected the woman to a prolonged attack. CCTV later showed him dragging her from the property and leaving her in a lift.
In the days after the attack, he kept the woman’s dog and arranged to sell it. The animal was later returned.
Szymanski denied rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm but was convicted by a jury after a 10-day trial. He later admitted stealing the dog.
The court heard the woman gave evidence against him during the trial. The following day, she was found dead. An inquest has yet to determine the cause of death.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman’s mother said her daughter was a devoted animal lover who looked “broken” after the attack and the loss of her pet.
She said her daughter had worked hard to tackle addiction issues and had written a list of things she still wanted to do with her life.
Her mother told the court: “In my eyes, his actions killed my child.”
Sentencing Szymanski, Judge Geraint Walters described the case as “disturbing” and said he had seen the woman as someone vulnerable who he could take advantage of.
The judge said she had been a “most compelling and honest witness”, despite the difficulties she had faced with drink and drugs.
He said he could not conclude that she had taken her own life because of what had happened, but added that the timing of her death was “particularly sad”.
Addressing Szymanski, he said: “What you did to her had a profound emotional effect on her.”
The court also heard Szymanski had previous convictions, including assaulting a former partner, battery, and assaulting a police officer.
He was sentenced as a dangerous offender to an extended 16-year term, made up of 12 years in custody and a further four years on licence.
He must serve two-thirds of the custodial term before he can apply for release. Any release will be decided by the Parole Board. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
Detective Constable Claire Davies, of South Wales Police, described the attack as “prolonged and significant” and called Szymanski a “truly despicable offender”.
She said the outcome had brought relief to the victim’s family and friends, adding that police hoped the case would reassure victims of sexual abuse that they will be listened to and treated with dignity and respect.
Anyone affected by the issues in this article can contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or by emailing [email protected].
