A teenage girl was sexually assaulted by a man who watched her shower in the changing rooms of a public swimming pool – Tomasz Figura, 46, was sentenced to 11 years behind bars
A teenage girl was sexually assaulted at a public swimming pool after her attacker watched her shower in the changing rooms. Tomasz Figura, 46, from Hull, denied offences of assault by penetration, sexual assault and voyeurism but he was convicted by a jury after a trial at Hull Crown Court on April 8.
Figura was jailed for 11 years but the sentencing, initially set for May 9, had to be pushed back because he was “drunk”. The court heard horrifying details of the attack and the “dreadful impact” it had on the teenage girl – who said the smell of chlorine still makes her tense to this day.
Figura admitted failing to attend for sentence at Grimsby Crown Court on May 9 because he was “drunk”. He was later arrested after also failing to attend at Hull Crown Court three days later and he was remanded in custody.
Claire Holmes, prosecuting, told a delayed sentencing hearing at Doncaster Crown Court that Figura received sexual gratification by seeing the girl showering. He intimately touched her while she was in the shower.
Figura, who appeared in court via video link, said: “It’s all a lie.” Holmes said the teenager suffered from “severe psychological harm” following the attack.
The girl later said: “I was crying myself to sleep and walking to school with puffy eyes. I couldn’t cope with the thoughts that plagued my mind. I suffered vivid nightmares, those same scenes playing on repeat in my head. I had countless panic attacks. I was constantly battling my own thoughts.
“To this day, the smell of chlorine makes my muscles tense.” She said of Figura: “This wasn’t my fault. It was all on you.” The court was told Figura had initially been allowed to be on bail but this changed after he did not show up to court on May 9.
Judge Alexander Menary told Figura: “I was told the reason you didn’t come to court was that you were drunk. Is that correct?” Figura replied: “That’s correct.” Judge Menary said: “Just because you were drunk is not a good reason not to come.” Figura replied: “I understand.”
John Dunning, mitigating, said that there had been no further offences since. Figura had no previous convictions but he had a caution in June, last year, for possessing an air weapon in his car.
He suffered health problems and was now in a wheelchair. Mr Dunning said: “That condition is likely to make any term of imprisonment much more arduous.” Figura was helped during the court hearing by a Polish interpreter.
Judge Menary said of the girl: “The dreadful impact on her was apparent at trial. There was severe psychological harm here. She is still impacted by what happened to her.”
Figura was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for life, alongside a 11 year prison sentence.