MARIUSZ RATAJCZAK FROM CARDIFF AND TROWBRIDGE FACES SUSPENDED SENTENCE AFTER SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRL

In June 2023, a disturbing case unfolded involving Mariusz Ratajczak, a man with connections to Cardiff and Trowbridge, who engaged in inappropriate and sexualized communication with a young girl. The incident came to light after Ratajczak, 46 years old, who was formerly residing in Cardiff, sent a series of explicit messages to the minor, during which he asked her personal questions about her underwear and made explicit remarks about wanting to see her naked.

According to court proceedings at Newport Crown Court, Ratajczak's messages included questions such as, "What pants have you got on, white or black?" and further explicit requests like, "Will you show me them?" and "I’ll like to see you naked." The young girl, who has lifelong anonymity to protect her identity, was overwhelmed by the content of these messages, which caused her to break down in tears and suffer a panic attack. Her distress was so severe that she confided in her family, prompting her to contact the police.

Following the incident, Ratajczak fled the United Kingdom to Poland, his country of origin, in an attempt to evade justice. However, he returned to Wales several months later. It was during his return to the UK that the victim, feeling unsafe and distressed, reached out to law enforcement authorities. Ratajczak was subsequently arrested upon his re-entry into the country.

At trial, Ratajczak denied sending the inappropriate messages, but the court found him guilty of engaging in sexual communications with a child after a thorough examination of the evidence. The court also learned that Ratajczak had six previous convictions in Poland; however, none of these were related to sexual offenses, which added a layer of complexity to his criminal history.

In a heartfelt victim personal statement read aloud in court, the young girl described her emotional and psychological suffering. She explained that during the incident, she felt confused, stunned, and was left speechless, experiencing a panic attack shortly after the messages began. She recounted feeling a profound sense of fear and disgust, and expressed that she initially blamed herself, feeling ashamed despite not provoking the offender. Her statement revealed that the trauma from the incident led to ongoing mental health struggles, including multiple attempts at self-harm.

She further expressed her shock and distress at Ratajczak’s return to the UK, which exacerbated her mental health issues and compelled her to seek police help. She was particularly disturbed by his audacity to return to Poland and then come back to the UK shortly thereafter, which she found deeply unsettling.

During sentencing, Recorder Joanna Evans described Ratajczak as a medium risk of harm to children. She criticized his lack of remorse, his failure to accept responsibility, and his refusal to address the underlying causes of his behavior. Ratajczak was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete a 24-month community order, which includes a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also mandated to register as a sex offender and was subject to a five-year restraining order to prevent any contact with the victim or other minors.

This case highlights the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predators, especially those who attempt to evade justice by fleeing the country and then returning to reoffend.