[Closed] Six months in jail for breaking in to get out of the cold...

Ah yes, the poor must be punished.

Back to the 1800s.

Jails are quite warm, so you never know he might be happy.

Does seem harsh though from reading the whole report wasn't he actually jailed for the theft of the keys and use of them thereafter rather than squatting?

Premeditated, he stole the keys a few days earlier. Deport the buggar!

Well I am sympathetic to someone out in the cold but if you read past the headline....

He burgled the house for the keys previously.
Entered the house, unlawfully, and stayed in it for 4 days.
Didn't leave when asked by the owner.

So the six months might be reasonable.

He might not have had a jail sentence if he hadn't waived his right to a pre sentence report, which would have brought into play mitigating factors such as the fact he had nowhere to go, other personal circumstances.
So yes it might seem harsh at first glance but he didn't help himself in the slightest, did he?

There are always other places that would have taken him in and from the sound of it he had money to buy his own food. As said early he pre meditatedly stole the keys, thiefs a thief just with some balls and a willingness to spend some time for free at HMP.

I have to agree with robdob, more going on that was reported.

But after Lewandowski waived his right to a pre-sentence report, the district judge said his theft and wrongful entry was without justification.

No he din't Rob, but then we don't know much about his mental state, which can't be too good considering he's lost his job and has nowhere to live.

I think 6 months is disproportionate; some sort of Community Order would surely have been more productive all round?

I think the real crime here is that in a part of the World that's as affluent as the UK, some poor sods have to sleep rough, and there is often little or no care provided for them. Let's face it, you have to be in a pretty bad situation, to be sleeping rough in winter.

There are always other places that would have taken him in

I think you are perhaps just a little naive as to what provisions there are for people such as this. And even if there was, how would he learn about them? It's actually very difficult for people sleeping rough to find any sort of accommodation, as such services are woefully inadequate for the actual scale of the problem.

I wonder just how self-righteous folk would be, were they in such a situation themselves...

Suggsey - Member

There are always other places that would have taken him in

Really? I was under the understanding there was a serious shortage of hostel places

I have to agree with robdob, more going on than was reported.

would you be happy coming home to find him in your home? - no, thought not.

disproportionate? or a correct sentence for once given that most other sentences are woefully short.

ps. i'd still deport the thieving buggar!

would you be happy coming home to find him in your home? - no, thought not.

No, but I'd be less happy about turfing the poor sod out into the cold, or ending up in jail actually. TBH, if they hadn't caused any damage, or stolen anything, then I'd rather let them stay than have to face being out in such horrible conditions.

disproportionate? or a correct sentence for once given that most other sentences are woefully short.

ps. i'd still deport the thieving buggar!

Ah right. Ok. Whatever.

breaking and entering is breaking and entering however much bull you dress it up with.

No, but I'd be less happy about turfing the poor sod out into the cold, or ending up in jail actually

rubbish

If he had keys it is not breaking and entering as no breaking involved - which is why thats not what he was prosecuted for

rubbish

In your head maybe. Not in mine. You don't know me at all, so don't make assumptions about others based on your own opinions alone. Thanks.

fair enough elfinsafety - guess you're too big hearted. I wouldn't want anyone suffering in the cold, but there's no way on earth they get away with that.

TJ - surely it was a case of unlawful entry though?

Elfinsafety - so what would you have done in that situation? let him stay? he wouldn't leave after all

Quite possibly M6TFF However according to that report

Lewandowski pleaded guilty to [b]theft [/b]and [b]wrongfully taking possession of the property [/b]at Tates Avenue between December 24 and 28.

Well yes I would actually. I couldn't turn another human being out into the freezing cold. Sure, I wouldn't be happy about it, but I believe in doing the right thing by others, and to me, that would mean letting them stay, be safe and warm and fed, and then try to help find out about services which could help them. I'm perhaps in a better position to be able to 'phone around see what was available and that.

I may only have a small flat, but I consider myself to be lucky to have what I've got. Others aren't so lucky. We should all try to do what we can to help others. Because one day we might find ourselves in that same situation, and crave the kindness of others.

Elfin, I fail to see your problem

Lewandowski pleaded guilty

Lets read that again:

Lewandowski pleaded guilty

Pretty much an open and shut case then isn't it? I mean, for a start, pleading guilty to theft tends to weaken your assertion that he hadn't stolen anything...

So.....you are willing to take this at face value? The offence was committed yesterday, and today a 6 month sentence? Something not reported here.

I never said anything about his 'guilt', Zulu, so back in your box, sunshine. 😉

Yes he took the keys. But he din't take owt else from the flat, and generally looked after the place.

Not saying he should be let off scott-free, as he has broken the Law (I said this at the beginning). Just that a six-month jail term is perhaps a bit harsh. Others agree with me, but I dare say you'll find some poin to try and make an argument. That's about all you ever do on here after all. 🙄

I may choose to ignore you; I may not. Whatever happens, I'll decide.

So.....you are willing to take this at face value? The offence was committed yesterday, and today a 6 month sentence? Something not reported here.

Tootall; when someone is arrested, unless it's a particularly bad crime, they are usually released on bail, unless they fail to provide a suitable address. As in this case. So it's straight to court. As he's admitted the offences, there is no need for a lengthy trial and that, and they will often be sentenced there and then.

There's undoubtedly something not reported here. Whether or not it's relevant, we don't know.

Elfinsafety read what you type re others thinking of you, trust me I am in no way naive, far from it, there are plenty of other options that he could have pursued including turning up on the doorstep of his local police station- I know from experience that we sorted someone in an exact same situation re no job etc etc not that many chrsitmases ago.
I assumne that there may be a polish community in the area that he was 'living' that he could have perhaps with help spoken to someone to gain a legitimate place to bed down. There is always crisis loans too. So in short lots of legal options he could have taken.

Elfinsafety - you are either a saint or far too trusting for your own good. to let a complete stranger, who you've found illegally in your own home, then stay is utter madness (IMO) buy good on you - lets hope you don't end up being on the news when someone has taken advantage of your kindness 🙂

In this weather, a six month jail sentence might just have saved his life. The sentence seems harsh but, if he's breaking and entering to get out of the cold, he's now out of the cold legitimately.

That seems good value for £18k of my taxes.
Where's Ken Clarke when you need him?

Oh and by the way he may have not wanted too much digging done into his previous convictions (should he have some) in his home country let alone in the UK which may have some bearing into his 'heavy' sentence.

Elfinsafety - you are either a saint or far too trusting for your own good. to let a complete stranger, who you've found illegally in your own home, then stay is utter madness

Well it might seem so, and if that person had damaged/stolen stuff then they'd be out, no question. But if they'd broken into my home, yet then shown respect for it in all other ways, then I'd have to consider the right course of action according to my own beliefs and ideals. Just because a person is homeless doesn't necessarily make them nasty or evil.

It's at times like this, when I'm reminded that many people live in such cosy safe little bubbles, they often fail to empathise, or see things through another's eyes. People are quick to judge, yet feel exempt from judgement themselves.

Too many look simply to punish crime, rather than look at the reasons why crime exists.

I applaud your feelings re helping someone out Elfinsafety but unfortunately having seen many victims of crime in the past 27 years, my real life experiences of crime and empathy for offenders is somewhat weighted in the other direction. Unfortunately as is always the case with the media its very rare that the full facts come to the publices attention and of course legal argument and mitigation can be very misleading. I would still expect that in view of the sentence that there is some facts there not in the public domain.

There's a simple solution Elfin, I mean, you live in 'that London' after all, don't you?

Shed loads of homeless people there - why don't you nip outside and invite one of them in for the rest of the Christmas period? You could post on here to keep us updated how its going, like a form of minor social experiment...

Come on, if you're so kind hearted, make the effort and show us that charity begins at home! If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!

No one was harmed, nothing was damaged. 6 months jail is ludicrous. You can kick someone's face in and get less.

That's a wonderful idea, Zulu! I take it you'll be setting an example and doing similar?

buzz-lightyear - Member
No one was harmed, nothing was damaged. 6 months jail is ludicrous. You can kick someone's face in and get less.

Add there lies the problem in this country we live in..

One case highlights the problem

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Judges-let-failed-asylum-seeker.6663142.jp

ludicrous.

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/human-rights-or-soft-leftyism ]Oh Christ; not [i]again[/i]??[/url] 🙁

If I found you in my house un-invited then I would expect you to be leaving in handcuffs in the back of a big police van after being licked to death by my Labrador.

Though to be fair the guy in question seems to be quite different from the types you find in Leeds.

And here come the fantasists... 🙄

Elfinsafety - Member
Oh Christ; not again??

without dragging that post up again - my point was to highlight disproportionate sentencing. his LENIENT sentence was appalling.

Elfin is right, pure fantasy. Its my cat you should be scared of, not the dog.

Contrary to popular belief sentencing guidelines are fairly strict. To get 6 months he's likely to have a bucket load of previous convictions. I'm sure community orders are likely to have been tried and failed already.

perhaps he got six months as the judge thought this was a good way to get him off the streets through winter?
elfin - i must say you made me empathise with the chap. i have heard of folk who are serial burglars as a career and having been broken into i have to say i despise those types, however, this guy didnt take the tv or money,etc, as far as I can see and yes in an ideal world it would be good to take him in. not sure I could do it but the poor blokes going to be at risk of death on the streets so hats off to you elfin

didn't take anything because he thought he had another week before the residents returned?