A Polish couple from Hackney have been found guilty of “racially aggravated assault” and “common assault” by Thames Magistrates’ Court, but have only been ordered to pay £40 to each of their three victims and attended a short rehabilitation programme.
Campaign Against Antisemitism reported:
The court had heard how Ineta Winiarski, aged 33, and Kasimiersz Winiarski, aged 62, a Polish couple living in Hackney, “terrified” wedding guests outside Kehal Yetev Lev Synagogue near Clapton Common in London on 3rd July.
Magistrate Caroline Dillon was told by prosecutor Demi Ugurtay how Mr Winiarski walked over to a driver, David Tangy, who was waiting to transfer the guests from the synagogue, and slammed his door. He then shoved Mr Tangy, whilst Ms Winiarski approached with the couple’s dog and whipped a guest, Ben Herbst, with the dog’s leash and shouted “****ing Jew”. Ben Herbst’s father, Israel Herbst rushed to protect his son from the attack and was hit by Ms Winiarski in the shoulder. Ms Winiarski shouted antisemitic abuse throughout the incident, including shouting “Kurwa” (a Polish expletive) and reportedly telling the Jewish wedding guests in broken English: “Dog stay here England, you Jews go away.”
Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol was called and followed the assailants to Clapton Common where they were arrested on suspicion of common assault and racially aggravated assault.
Ms Winiarski pleaded guilty to three counts of racially aggravated assault. She was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, in respect of each offence, as well as being ordered to participate in a rehabilitation programme lasting no longer than 20 days. She was also ordered to pay £40 to each of her three victims, as well as £230 in victim surcharges to fund victims’ services, and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Winiarski pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault. He too was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, in respect of each offence, as well as being ordered to participate in a rehabilitation programme lasting no longer than 20 days. He was also ordered to pay £40 to each of his two victims, as well as £115 in victim surcharges to fund victims’ services, and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Magistrate Caroline Dillon told the couple: “The appropriate sentence is one of 12 weeks in prison, however, because you are of good character it will be suspended for 12 months.”
Source: CAA
