Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury man attacked terrified girls in park

A FATHER of two physically attacked two young teenage girls in a park, slapping both their faces and hurling one to the floor.

The extraordinary scene happened in a park area in Curling Way, Newbury...in a row over a child's scooter.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 23, was car mechanic David Nowogorski, who admitted he had wanted to "teach them a lesson".

The 42-year-old, of Redfield Court, Newbury, had initially denied assaulting the girls, who can not be named for legal reasons, in Newbury on a specified date last year.

However he later changed his mind and admitted assault by beating in both cases.

Mr Nowogorski also admitted damaging a coat of the girl he threw to the floor, on the same occasion.

Rebecca Phipps, prosecuting, said Mr Nowogorski's wife, who was with her son, became embroiled in an altercation with the two girls over the scooter and added: "She then made a phone call in a language they didn't understand.

"Soon afterwards two men arrived, one of whom was this defendant.

"He told the girls: 'You're f******.'"

Mr Nowogorski then slapped each girl in turn in the face, the court heard.

Not finished, he also grabbed one of them, throwing her to the ground with such force that her jacket tore.

The girl later described feeling blood in her mouth as a result of the attack.

One of the victims later said in a statement: "I no longer go to the area in case I see him again.

"The first few days afterwards I was in pain and struggled to sleep.

"It's affected my confidence and this whole process has taken its toll on me."

Tom Morgan, defending, said his client was a man of previous good character and had become "overwhelmed by anger and emotion".

He added that Mrs Nowogorski had been threatened by the two girls when she tried to intervene in a row between them and her son.

Mr Morgan went on: "She called her husband and asked him to come down; he could hear how upset she was.

"He accepts that he did want to intimidate and threaten them and, essentially, teach them a lesson."

District judge Samuel Goozee said he accepted that Mr Nowogorski's actions had been out of character and that he had expressed remorse to the probation service.

He made Mr Nowogorski subject to a 12 month community order with the requirement that he complete 180 hours of unpaid community work.

In addition, he was ordered to pay £775 costs.

Finally, Mr Nowogorski was ordered to pay compensation of £75 to one of the girls and £50 to the other.