A burly factory worker terrorised a teenager during a campaign of intimidation on a night out in a Moray town.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that 32-year-old Patryk Polewski left 19-year-old Ellie Thain “hysterical” after pursuing her from a pub to a nightclub and grabbing her arm.
The machine operator at Baxters food factory in Fochabers appeared in court for sentencing yesterday, after previously admitting following the teenager, touching her and staring at her, causing her fear and alarm during the incident in Buckie on March 15.
The court heart Polewski followed Miss Thain from Sandison’s pub on the town’s East Church Street to the Kiss nightclub at an “uncomfortably close distance”.
Fiscal depute Ruaraidh MacAllister said: “When Miss Thain left Sandison’s around 12.30am she shouted across the bar to let her friends know.
“She believes the accused would have heard this.
“As Miss Thain made her way along the street she sensed that she was being followed, and when she turned around the accused was approximately two steps behind her.
“Polewski continued to follow her at an uncomfortably close distance.”
The accused then grabbed her by the left arm, causing her to scream.
The fiscal added: “At this stage the complainer thought Polewski said something to her in Russian, and she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.”
Miss Thain then recognised some friends in a car outside Kiss nightclub in Cluny Square, and entered the vehicle to avoid her pursuer.
Later that evening Miss Thain returned to the Sandison’s bar and when she spotted the accused on the dance floor she approached staff to report her earlier experience.
The court heard that the accused then appeared behind Miss Thain and stared at her, causing her to “break down and become hysterical”.
The fiscal said that police found the complainer “crying and shaking uncontrollably”.
Representing Polewski, solicitor Stephen Carty said his client accepted the incident “must have been extremely upsetting” for the teenager.
Mr Carty added: “He grossly misunderstood what appeared to be happening between himself and her.”
Sheriff David Hall fined Polewski, of Flat A, 49 East Church Street, Buckie, £500 and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay his victim £500 compensation.