A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:48 pm
Racist pours petrol on neighbour before setting off fireworks
3 Jan 2014 16:35
Charles Gilbert admitted racially aggravated assault against Polish national Piotr Knap
Share on print Share on email
Charles Gilbert Charles Gilbert
A racist neighbour poured petrol over the Polish man next door, terrifying him and his wife before lighting a match.
Charles Gilbert, 54, had taken against the young couple from the moment they moved in, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
He splashed the fuel from a jerry can all over Piotr Knap, drenching him, then set off fireworks as the terrified victim watched, shaking from a window.
“That was part and parcel of the terror” Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told Gilbert as he jailed him for 16 months.
“If one of those fireworks had gone off near a man doused in petrol, he would have burst into flames.”
Prosecutor Gareth James said the petrol had gone into Mr Knap’s eyes, burning them but that was nothing to the emotional suffering of both he and his wife Marzena.
“They had only just bought their house but now want to move” he told the court.
“It was a terrifying experience which has greatly affected their quality of life in their own home”.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Knap said he just couldn’t get his head round the fact that a neighbour could behave in such a way.
“It comes back to me every time I fill up my car and smell the petrol”.
He and his wife lost several days work immediately after the incident and Mrs Knap described being so frightened she was unable to sleep.
She suffered nightmares thinking her husband could have been killed and had to cancel driving lessons she had booked because her health suffered.
Gilbert of Rumney, Cardiff, initially denied the incident but later admitted a racially aggravated common assault.
His lawyer Huw Bowden said he had a problem with alcohol abuse and other issues which made him unable to tolerate noise or other people.
“He seems he took an instant dislike to his new neighbours and accepts it was racial but he would probably have felt the same towards anyone moving in because of his underlying problems.”
Gilbert had made previous court appearances going back to 2003 when he was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear.
In 2009 he was sentenced for harrassment.
A restraining order was put in place banning Gilbert from contacting the couple for 10 years.
3 Jan 2014 16:35
Charles Gilbert admitted racially aggravated assault against Polish national Piotr Knap
Share on print Share on email
Charles Gilbert Charles Gilbert
A racist neighbour poured petrol over the Polish man next door, terrifying him and his wife before lighting a match.
Charles Gilbert, 54, had taken against the young couple from the moment they moved in, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
He splashed the fuel from a jerry can all over Piotr Knap, drenching him, then set off fireworks as the terrified victim watched, shaking from a window.
“That was part and parcel of the terror” Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told Gilbert as he jailed him for 16 months.
“If one of those fireworks had gone off near a man doused in petrol, he would have burst into flames.”
Prosecutor Gareth James said the petrol had gone into Mr Knap’s eyes, burning them but that was nothing to the emotional suffering of both he and his wife Marzena.
“They had only just bought their house but now want to move” he told the court.
“It was a terrifying experience which has greatly affected their quality of life in their own home”.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Knap said he just couldn’t get his head round the fact that a neighbour could behave in such a way.
“It comes back to me every time I fill up my car and smell the petrol”.
He and his wife lost several days work immediately after the incident and Mrs Knap described being so frightened she was unable to sleep.
She suffered nightmares thinking her husband could have been killed and had to cancel driving lessons she had booked because her health suffered.
Gilbert of Rumney, Cardiff, initially denied the incident but later admitted a racially aggravated common assault.
His lawyer Huw Bowden said he had a problem with alcohol abuse and other issues which made him unable to tolerate noise or other people.
“He seems he took an instant dislike to his new neighbours and accepts it was racial but he would probably have felt the same towards anyone moving in because of his underlying problems.”
Gilbert had made previous court appearances going back to 2003 when he was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear.
In 2009 he was sentenced for harrassment.
A restraining order was put in place banning Gilbert from contacting the couple for 10 years.
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:33 pm
CardiffBatman888 wrote:Racist pours petrol on neighbour before setting off fireworks
3 Jan 2014 16:35
Charles Gilbert admitted racially aggravated assault against Polish national Piotr Knap
Share on print Share on email
Charles Gilbert Charles Gilbert
A racist neighbour poured petrol over the Polish man next door, terrifying him and his wife before lighting a match.
Charles Gilbert, 54, had taken against the young couple from the moment they moved in, Cardiff Crown Court was told.
He splashed the fuel from a jerry can all over Piotr Knap, drenching him, then set off fireworks as the terrified victim watched, shaking from a window.
“That was part and parcel of the terror” Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told Gilbert as he jailed him for 16 months.
“If one of those fireworks had gone off near a man doused in petrol, he would have burst into flames.”
Prosecutor Gareth James said the petrol had gone into Mr Knap’s eyes, burning them but that was nothing to the emotional suffering of both he and his wife Marzena.
Racist b*stard, skin him alive!
“They had only just bought their house but now want to move” he told the court.
“It was a terrifying experience which has greatly affected their quality of life in their own home”.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Knap said he just couldn’t get his head round the fact that a neighbour could behave in such a way.
“It comes back to me every time I fill up my car and smell the petrol”.
He and his wife lost several days work immediately after the incident and Mrs Knap described being so frightened she was unable to sleep.
She suffered nightmares thinking her husband could have been killed and had to cancel driving lessons she had booked because her health suffered.
Gilbert of Rumney, Cardiff, initially denied the incident but later admitted a racially aggravated common assault.
His lawyer Huw Bowden said he had a problem with alcohol abuse and other issues which made him unable to tolerate noise or other people.
“He seems he took an instant dislike to his new neighbours and accepts it was racial but he would probably have felt the same towards anyone moving in because of his underlying problems.”
Gilbert had made previous court appearances going back to 2003 when he was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear.
In 2009 he was sentenced for harrassment.
A restraining order was put in place banning Gilbert from contacting the couple for 10 years.
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:09 pm
I read this in the paper and thought he must have some sort of mental illness to behave like this to strangers.
Sentence way too light, though obviously don't know all the facts. Get worse for pushing a steward over...
Sentence way too light, though obviously don't know all the facts. Get worse for pushing a steward over...
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:25 pm
This is sick. What is wrong with some peoples' thinking? I can't understand why you would want to do this to someone. Deserves more than 16 months!
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:23 pm
He looks like an odd ball! Hate to have anyone live near me like him!
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:26 pm
Used to work with him in llanishen many years ago....was a decent enough bloke then from a good family....dont know whats happened to him to do this.
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:31 pm
Plenty of Polish in prison who will find out what he did because these inmates always have a way and once they start asking questions they will find out. He'll end up the sorry one because the Polish, Czech's, Serbs, Romanians and Bulgarians can be right evil buggers when they want to be. He's a 54 year old man going into prisons full of minorities with a conviction for racially aggravated common assault and a lot of these minorities are massive from being in the gym every day. Sucks to be him. Karma is going to paying him a visit soon enough I would imagine.
Re: A Man from Rumney poured petrol over the Polish man
Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:50 pm
JB39. wrote:Plenty of Polish in prison who will find out what he did because these inmates always have a way and once they start asking questions they will find out. He'll end up the sorry one because the Polish, Czech's, Serbs, Romanians and Bulgarians can be right evil buggers when they want to be. He's a 54 year old man going into prisons full of minorities with a conviction for racially aggravated common assault and a lot of these minorities are massive from being in the gym every day. Sucks to be him. Karma is going to paying him a visit soon enough I would imagine.
you've been reading too many books.