PIOTR DZIURDZIK FROM BALLYMONEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

In November 2016, a serious case involving a medical professional from Ballymoney, County Antrim, drew significant attention from local authorities and the community. Piotr Dziurdzik, a 33-year-old anaesthetist, was found guilty of possessing nearly 3,000 indecent images of children, some as young as five years old. Despite the gravity of his actions, Dziurdzik was spared immediate imprisonment, receiving a nine-month jail sentence that was suspended, a decision that sparked debate among legal experts and residents alike.

At the time of the offences, Dziurdzik was employed at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, where he worked as an anaesthetist. The crimes took place over a span of three years, from 2012 to 2015, during which he accumulated a significant collection of illicit images. The charges against him included 27 counts of making indecent photographs of children, along with additional allegations of possessing prohibited images and extreme pornography. In total, he faced 33 charges related to these offences.

During court proceedings, the prosecution revealed that when police confronted Dziurdzik, he did not deny his actions. Instead, he admitted to the allegations with a simple acknowledgment of “Yes, true.” He also attempted to justify his behaviour by explaining that he had occasionally viewed adult websites, which contained links to the illegal content. Dziurdzik claimed that such viewing was not his primary interest, suggesting a degree of remorse or at least an awareness of the wrongdoing.

Further police interviews uncovered Dziurdzik’s reflections on his conduct. He described his actions as a “paradox,” expressing awareness that what he was doing was forbidden. He likened his internal conflict to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, referring to the “forbidden apple,” which illustrated his understanding of the moral boundaries he crossed.

The images he possessed were predominantly of young girls, but there were also some depicting small boys. The children’s ages ranged mainly between eight and twelve, with some as young as five or six, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material involved.

In sentencing, the judge at Antrim court acknowledged the complexity of the case. While recognizing the severity of the offences, he emphasized Dziurdzik’s apparent remorse and the steps taken to address his behaviour. The court’s reports indicated that Dziurdzik was not considered a dangerous offender and posed a low risk of reoffending. Nonetheless, the judge issued a stern warning that if Dziurdzik committed any further offences within the next two years, he would face immediate imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his actions.