A MAN who sexually assaulted six women on various buses in Dublin has been sentenced to three years in jail with the final 16 months suspended.
Piotr Rownicki (34), Seagrove Close, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven charges of sexual assault between January 2007 and May 3rd, 2011. He assaulted one young woman twice on different buses.
The court heard that Rownicki, from Poland, had no previous convictions. He came to Ireland in October 2006. Luigi Rea, defending, said Rownicki had two relationships that had broken down, which he had taken badly. He said this led to his offending.
Garda Joanne McCormack told Gerardine Small, prosecuting, that Rownicki was arrested in May 2011 after he sat on the 37 bus beside one woman he had sexually assaulted the previous spring. He assaulted her again in the same manner. She immediately recognised Rownicki. She was in “complete shock” when he started to touch her.
Garda McCormack said Rownicki had assaulted the five other women in the same manner.
Each time Rownicki had sat beside his victim when there were other empty seats available, put a jacket over his knees, masturbated and touched the woman’s leg.