A woman returned home to find her house had been burglarized in an unusual manner: the burglar hung out her washing, put her shopping away, and even cooked a meal on her stove.
Damian Wojnilowicz, 36, was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court for this peculiar burglary that took place in Monmouthshire on July 16. The victim described feeling too scared to stay in her home after discovering that items in her garden had been moved and her recycling bin had been emptied.
Wojnilowicz left a note reading: “Don’t worry, be happy, eat up and scratch.” Prosecutor Alice Sykes revealed that bird feeders had been refilled, plant pots rearranged, and new kitchen utensils had been laid out from the victim’s shopping bag. Inside the house, a meal had been prepared using items from her cupboard, and shopping had been rearranged in the fridge.
Additionally, toothbrush heads were swapped, an empty wine bottle was placed back in the rack, and the floor had been cleaned with a mop and bucket left out. The victim found a glass of red wine next to an opened bottle and a bowl of sweets on the living room table. A neighbor reported seeing someone hanging out washing during the incident.
In her victim impact statement, the woman shared that for two weeks after the crime, she experienced heightened anxiety and fear, questioning whether she was being stalked. She felt unsafe in her own home and stayed with a friend.
A second burglary occurred on July 29, when the male homeowner received a CCTV alert showing Wojnilowicz on his driveway. He used the shower in a summerhouse, consumed food and drinks, and left the hot tub dirty. When confronted by the homeowner’s son-in-law, Wojnilowicz appeared drunk and was asked to leave. He was later arrested after DNA evidence linked him to the first burglary.
The homeowner expressed feeling “sick, horrified, and useless” upon learning of the intrusion. Defense attorney Tabitha Walker stated that Wojnilowicz was homeless at the time and had been facing various difficulties. She noted that he expressed remorse for the harm caused.
During sentencing, Recorder Christian Jowett emphasized that this was a significant intrusion into the victims’ homes. Wojnilowicz, who has a history of four previous convictions for various offenses, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary.
