How Did an Intruder Transform a Home into a Scene of Domesticity?
In a startling event that left a woman uncomfortable in her house, a thief was involved in strange household activities following housebreaking. Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, was jailed for 22 months in Cardiff Crown Court on July 16 for this odd and disturbing burglary in Monmouthshire.
The victim found that not only had her house been invaded but also that her groceries had been put away, her clothes hung out, and supper had been made on her stove when she returned from work. “I felt like my safe space had been invaded,” the woman said in her victim impact statement. “I questioned if it was somebody who knew me if it would become a stalking incident, if he knew I lived alone, and if I had been targeted.” She decided to stay with a friend instead of facing the fear of being alone in her own house since the break-in brought her so much misery.
What Disturbing Evidence Was Found?
“Don’t worry, be happy, eat up, and scratch,” Wojnilowicz left a message for the victim. This odd note was just one of the few disturbing elements of the break-in. Apart from washing and cooking, the intruder refilled bird feeders and rearranged outdoor plant pots, the court heard. He pulled shoes from their box and dumped them in the recycle bin inside the house.
Prosecutors underlined the strange behaviour of the intruder: “A supper had been made using materials from the woman’s closet. Shopping had been taken from a bag and put in the rearranged refrigerator. Moreover, fresh goods from the shopping bag were placed on the counter while kitchen utensils were thrown in the garbage.
The empty wine bottle discovered on the rack suggested that the thief had drunk it, and a mop and bucket were left out following floor cleaning. On the living room table, the victim also discovered a tray of chocolates and a bottle of red wine next to a glass and bottle opener. The incident’s unsettling character was enhanced by her neighbour’s account of seeing someone hanging laundry early that day.
How Did the Incident Affect the Victim's Life?
The break-in has tremendous psychological effects. “Two weeks after the crime, until he was caught, I was living in a state of heightened anxiety I had never experienced before,” she said in her victim statement. This breach destroyed her sense of safety and left her battling worry and fear in her house.
On July 29, Wojnilowicz had another occurrence whereby a male homeowner got a CCTV warning on his phone depicting the thief prowling on his driveway. Once more, the defendant behaved erratically, cleaning his clothes and himself in a summerhouse using the shower. Food and wine were consumed during this intrusion; the hot tub remained unclean.
When the victim’s son-in-law came to visit the home, he discovered Wojnilowicz slumped over with a glass in his hands. The invader fled upon demand, but he was captured later. His DNA was matched on fingerprints found at the first house he had broken into, verifying his involvement in both break-ins.
What Were the Court Proceedings Like?
When the male victim saw his house invaded, he said he felt “sick, horrified, and useless.”
In defence of Wojnilowicz, his lawyer said he was homeless at the time of the offences and dealing with many personal issues. She said, “He was apologetic to the victims and for the harm he had caused them.”
“This was a significant intrusion in their homes,” the judge said, addressing the invasions’ seriousness during the sentencing.
Currently, without a stable address, Wojnilowicz admitted two charges of burglary. The court also mentioned his four past convictions for different crimes, including failing to surrender, public order offences, and common assault. The instance reminds us how quickly invasions could change one’s sense of comfort and security within one’s house.
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