Polish man facing deportation after masked raid

Feb 9 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A FORMER altar boy told a deportation hearing yesterday afternoon that he took part in a masked raid on a Perth restaurant because he was desperate for cash to pay his rent.

Polish national Aleksander Gowinski (19), originally from Katowice, said he and his two co-accused had been threatened with eviction from their flat in Marshall Place.

A former prefect at St Columba’s High School in Perth, he is currently studying sound engineering at Perth College.

He and his 21-year-old brother Mateusz, along with 19-year-old Hubert Kowalczyk, are facing deportation after pleading guilty last week to stealing around £4,000 from The Maltings, Dunkeld Road, on October 18 last year.

They started planning the robbery some three-five days earlier because they had previously been late paying their rent.

And they firmed up the plans on October 17, the day they received another visit from agents acting for their landlord.

They made masks from the sleeves of their work clothing but Aleksander insisted they hadn’t intended to harm anyone.

They reckoned only one person would be on duty in the restaurant that night and no violence would be needed.

But they were confronted by two employees in the office and “panicked.”

“I regret it, that’s for sure. I believe I have done a terrible thing.

“If I just could turn back time I could – but I can’t. I am just ashamed of myself.”

But he insisted: “I don’t think I present a threat to public security or public health.”

The court heard last week that the bungling trio dropped a hooded jacket as they fled after forcing the two employees to the floor.

Police recovered it nearby – and in one of the pockets was a piece of paper containing Kowalski’s name.

He had previously been employed at the restaurant.

The note also contained a map, detailing various possible escape routes from the restaurant, as well as the positions of CCTV cameras.

Police subsequently arrested the three accused, all Polish nationals.

They subsequently admitted attacking Maltings employees Ewan MacKenzie and Stuart Bryce and struggling violently with them.

Depute fiscal Stewart Richardson said that Mr McKenzie was outside having a cigarette when a figure, wearing a mask with eye holes cut out of it, went into the office.

“Realising immediately what was about to happen, he tried to attack this individual and kicked out towards him,” added Mr Richardson.

“At that point, the second and third masked individuals entered the office.”

Mr McKenzie felt a punch to the top of his head and he was forced onto the floor, as was his colleague.

“Mr McKenzie realised by that stage he had been injured and could feel blood running down his face,” said the fiscal.

“He simply shouted to the three men: ‘Just take the money and go’ – which they did.”

The deportation hearing continues.