A 33-year-old man, Dariusz Sicinski of Cheltenham, has admitted to stalking a 16-year-old girl who was repeatedly approached while waiting at a bus stop to travel to college. Sicinski appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to stalking causing serious alarm and distress. He has been granted bail pending sentencing on May 6.
Wiltshire Police received the initial report on October 7 last year, when the victim informed authorities that a man, later identified as Sicinski, persistently approached her over a period of time at a bus stop in Wiltshire. Despite her explicit requests for him to stop and her disclosure of being only 16 years old, Sicinski continued his pursuit, going as far as bringing her gifts and asking for a kiss.
Following the report, officers from Wiltshire Police’s Missing and Exploitation Unit (MEU) coordinated a surveillance operation. Plainclothes officers accompanied the girl to the bus stop, positioned themselves in unmarked vehicles, and monitored the area. When Sicinski arrived in his van and approached the victim, officers intervened and arrested him.
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During his police interview, Sicinski admitted, “When I went past, I saw her face, her hair and her body shape and I wanted to talk to her and meet her.”
Detective Constable Niall Maidment of the MEU emphasized the gravity of the case: “This was an escalating case of stalking involving a 16-year-old girl, causing significant fear and distress as she tried to catch her bus to college. Thanks to the victim’s prompt report and courage, we were able to apprehend Sicinski red-handed.”
DC Maidment added that Wiltshire Police are committed to tackling stalking and harassment, especially towards young people and women, highlighting it as a key priority in reducing and preventing violence against women and girls.
The MEU, launched earlier this year, focuses on locating missing children and addressing factors that contribute to children going missing. The unit also works with partner agencies to prevent repeated missing episodes and combat exploitation, group-based offending, modern slavery, and human trafficking.
The victim’s bravery in reporting the stalking has been acknowledged, and police continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals.