TOMASZ MATUSIAK'S SHAMEFUL CRIMES IN WARRINGTON AND RUNCORN REVEALED
In June 2020, a disturbing case of sexual misconduct unfolded involving Tomasz Matusiak, a resident of Warrington, who was later convicted and sentenced for his heinous actions.The incidents took place in a McColl's store located in Runcorn, where Matusiak targeted two teenage girls in a series of unsettling encounters that were ultimately captured on CCTV footage.
According to the prosecution presented by Amber-Jade Wong at Chester Crown Court, Matusiak, of Lysander Drive, Padgate, Warrington, deliberately waited for moments when the young victims were distracted—specifically when they were making phone calls—before approaching from behind and touching them inappropriately.
The first victim, a girl dressed in her school uniform, was subjected to this assault while she was shopping in the store.
Despite initially denying any recollection of the incident, Matusiak was compelled to admit his guilt after police presented him with the store’s CCTV footage, which clearly documented his actions.
In an attempt to justify his behavior, Matusiak claimed he thought his first victim was a work colleague and insisted that his actions were “not meant to be serious.” However, this excuse was undermined by the fact that the girl and the colleague he referenced had different hair colors, casting doubt on his claim.
The severity of his misconduct was further highlighted by the fact that he struck while one of the girls was pushing a pram with a young relative, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the safety and comfort of the victims.
The incident involving the older girl was particularly distressing.
She was observed trying to find crisps in an aisle when she suddenly felt something touching her bottom.
She immediately looked over her shoulder and saw Matusiak standing directly behind her.
The girl was visibly shaken, and her distress was evident as she approached the checkout, visibly trembling.
Her relative, who was on a FaceTime call with her at the time, caught sight of Matusiak in the background and saw him touch her again while she was on the call.
The relative then went to the store and saw Matusiak climbing over a fence onto a grass verge outside.
Confronted by the girl’s grandfather, Matusiak was accused directly, with the grandfather stating, “you’ve just touched my granddaughter’s a***.” Meanwhile, the second victim, also in school uniform, experienced a similar unsettling encounter.
While examining crisps and chocolates, she felt someone touch her and noticed a male standing uncomfortably close behind her.
Matusiak was seen standing behind her in the queue, and after the incident, she saw him again outside her home.
She approached him, asking if she could help him, to which he replied that he was okay and then left the scene.
Police officers from Cheshire Constabulary responded swiftly, arresting Matusiak at 7:26 pm.
During the arrest, officers noted that he matched descriptions of the perpetrator and was seen with a bandaged hand.
In police interviews, Matusiak expressed remorse, claiming, “I’m really sorry, I thought it was my colleague,” and insisted that his actions were “not meant to be serious.” He also admitted to drinking alcohol that day and acknowledged the incident with the girl he mistook for a colleague, claiming he had been drinking and was “very sorry.” Despite his pleas of innocence, CCTV footage proved his guilt beyond doubt.
Matusiak pleaded guilty in magistrates’ court in June of the previous year but failed to appear for his sentencing at Chester Crown Court on August 8.
He remained at large for eight months until police located him six weeks prior to his arrest, and he has been in custody ever since.
The court heard victim impact statements revealing that both girls suffered from anxiety, with one experiencing panic attacks due to the trauma inflicted.
Matusiak explained his absence from court, stating that he missed the hearing because someone had retracted a lift offer and police refused to transport him.
The victim expressed her distress, saying, “He went to the police station and asked if they could transport him and they said no.” Judge Patrick Thompson sentenced Matusiak to a total of 12 months in immediate custody.
The sentence included ten months for the sexual assaults and an additional two months, to be served consecutively, for failing to attend court.
Matusiak was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and was subject to restraining orders preventing him from contacting his victims directly or indirectly.
Furthermore, a specific order was issued banning him from entering the McColl’s store where the crimes occurred.
In delivering his judgment, Judge Thompson emphasized the gravity of Matusiak’s actions, stating: “It seems you had taken a significant amount of alcohol and what you did was target two young girls who were in that store.
One of those girls was 15 years of age.
The other was 16 years of age.
One was in school uniform.
You approached one of the girls when she was looking at crisps and she felt you touching her bottom.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, you then approached a second young girl, 16 years of age.
She had a push chair with a child in.
You waited until she was on a telephone.
You touched her bottom.
You thought you had got away with it and you waited till she was on a telephone again and again you touched her bottom.” He further described Matusiak as a “sexual predator” who targeted vulnerable young girls, highlighting the seriousness of his misconduct and the need for strict punishment to protect the community from such predatory behavior.
