A frustrated father who threw water over his ex-partner after finding her still in bed past noon has been fined after he admitted two offences.
The woman was at her Penrith home on October 23 when Steven Sobolewski entered the property. This was part of a pre-arranged visit to assist with child care.
Sobolewski, 42, made his way upstairs and passed a comment about the woman still being in bed, Carlisle’s magistrates’ court was told.
He twice threw water over her and, as he left the address, told her: “I’ll be back in 20 minutes. You better have got your (self) out of bed.”
Water thrown by Sobolewski — who made full admissions when later interviewed by police — landed on items including an extension cable that was damaged to the value of £20.
Sobolewski, of Scotland Road, Penrith, pleaded guilty to charges of assault by beating and damaging property when he appeared in court today for the first time in almost a decade.
He had 53 past offences to his name, the last dating back to 2015 and involving an unrelated battery.
Defence lawyer Jeff Smith, mitigating, said at that time Sobolewski was conscious the woman struggled to get out of bed on a regular basis.
On the third day of a new arrangement, at 8am, Sobolewski visited the house with a key as he had on the previous two but found a separate key had been left on the inside of a door, preventing his entry. He left and returned at 12.20pm, when he was let in by a friend of the woman and at 12.30pm found two children were still lying in cots.
“Not surprisingly he was concerned about the welfare of the children,” said Mr Smith. “One can understand but not condone what he did. He has certain problems of his own.”
District Judge John Temperley imposed total fines of £150 and ordered Sobolewski to pay £20 compensation plus court costs.
