legrandangle-lgm

A man involved with a group in an acid attack in east Belfast has avoided being sent to prison.

Pawel Lesnieswki (41) was given a three-month prison sentence by judge Mark Reel, of which eighteen months were suspended.

Lesnieswki, of Cherrymount in Newtownabbey, admitted a charge of unlawful assembly.

The charge arose from an incident in the Sunbury Avenue area of ​​Belfast on August 5, 2023.

Lesnieswki was one of five men – all Polish nationals – who started a car chase.

The driver of the chased car was also a Polish national and after an object was thrown at his car, he left his vehicle.

At this point the five men in the second vehicle also exited their vehicle, their victim was subjected to a karate-style kick and acid was also thrown at him.

Belfast Crown Court heard that Lesnieswki’s involvement amounted to getting out of the car with the other four men and ‘staying behind’ as the victim was kicked and acid thrown at him.

The other four men involved in the incident were never arrested and are essentially at large.

Judge Reel said that after watching a video of the incident it was clear that Lesnieswki was part of a “threatening crowd” who left their vehicle in a residential area, but accepted that he did not approach the victim and that his role was limited.

Lesnieswki was given the suspended sentence and warned of the consequences of reoffending over the next 18 months.

The judge added: “What happened next to the injured party was an appalling offense and if the person involved in throwing the acid were to stand before this court, a very, very different punishment would be meted out to that person imposed.”