A WOMAN had to be taken to safety by strangers after a thug chased her down the street and grabbed her.

The victim was getting out of her car on Cumbernauld Road, in Haghill, when 30-year-old Lukasz Wieczorek spotted her on October 17 last year.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Victoria Keel said: “At 4.05pm the accused approached her vehicle and began to shout aggressively in a language she believed to be Eastern European.

“He put up his middle finger shouting ‘Islam’. The woman, who was wearing a headscarf, was fearing for her safety.

“She felt threatened and began to walk away. He followed and the woman sped up before breaking into a run.

“The accused ran after her briefly, taking hold of her right arm whilst waving a banknote and continuously shouting.

“She crossed the road onto a footpath and placed the railings between herself and the accused and proceeded to call 999 for police assistance.”

Meanwhile, a man passing by asked the woman if she was being harassed and went on to confront Wieczorek, who then entered a newsagent’s store before coming back out with a carrier bag.

Two people who witnessed him chasing the woman from their window came out to assist.

They took her into their home for safety.

Wieczorek loitered outside before returning to his own flat.

Ms Keel said: “The woman returned to her home to await police arrival. Officers attended and the woman said she was in fear of returning home late at night as a result of the incident.

“Officers attended the accused’s home and traced him within. He was heavily intoxicated and invited the officers into the flat.

“He was arrested and conveyed to London Road police office. He was provided with a Polish translation service. During this process, he admitted he had tested positive for Covid-19 before repeatedly stating he had been joking.

“He was conveyed to Greenock police office as the designated Covid custody centre. He was not formally cautioned and charged due to his level of intoxication.”

Wieczorek appeared in court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to following the woman and seizing her by the body.

Court papers state the offence was aggravated by religious prejudice. 

Wieczorek's lawyer explained that a social work report had not been carried out.

Sheriff Allan Findlay deferred sentencing for this to be completed.

He said: “You need to cooperate this time.”

Wieczorek, of Haghill, will return to court next month.