January 2021 Remorseless predator sexually abused schoolgirl A remorseless ‘predator’ sexually assaulted a schoolgirl after plying her with alcohol. Polish national Marek Swistak, 53, carried out a ‘catalogue of sexual offending’ against his victim. On one occasion, she was forced to drink so much alcohol that she woke up unable to recall what had happened to her. At Bolton Crown Court today (Tuesday), Swistak was jailed for 13 years. Prosecutor Julian Goode told the court Swistak ‘groomed’ the girl before encouraging her to perform sexual acts. As the abuse escalated, he sexually assaulted his victim and recorded her on his phone Swistak threatened the girl and told her that if she revealed the abuse, ‘no one would believe her’. The court heard Swistak would often summon the victim via text, leaving her ‘haunted’ by the sound of alerts on her phone. In a statement, the victim said the abuse has left her suffering with low confidence and self-esteem She also experiences mood swings and a loss of appetite. The victim said she could ‘never forget’ what Swistak did to her. Swistak, who has no previous convictions, was found guilty of a number of charges by a jury at a trial in October last year. They included causing a child to engage in sexual activity; two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16; engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child under 16; two counts of making indecent photographs of a child; four counts of sexual assault of a child under 16; and sexual assault by penetration of a child under 16. Keith Harrison, mitigating, described Swistak, from north Manchester, as being of ‘hitherto good character’. Swistak is the former owner of Magimark Polish grocery store Sentencing Swistak, Judge Martin Walsh described his behaviour as ‘predatory’. “You have shown no remorse or acknowledgement of the gravity of your offending and the devastating impact it has had upon the victim,” he added. Judge Walsh imposed a restraining order, banning Swistak from contacting his victim, and made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order. He will also be forced to sign the sex offender register for life.