Teenager jailed for stealing police uniform
A teenager has been jailed for three years after an officer was threatened with a hammer and had a suitcase containing his uniform stolen.
Eighteen-year-old Bartlomiej Zielnski of Enfield, North London, was caught out when he was later arrested for an unrelated matter and the officer’s helmet was found in his house.
The officer, a serving response constable attached to the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Central South Command Unit, was on his way to work on January 10, 2020, when he was approached at Edmonton Green bus station by Zielnski and another youth, who offered him drugs.
The constable identified himself as a police officer and tried to stop them but the other male pulled out a hammer and threatened him. The pair then stole the officer’s suitcase, which had his uniform inside, before running off.
Five days later, Zielnski was arrested following an unrelated matter. A search of his address was carried out and the officer’s helmet was discovered.
The MPS said Zielnski, who was jailed at Wood Green Court on Wednesday (June 9), was identified in an ID procedure and charged with robbery.
The other male has not been identified.
Detective Constable Daniel Trodden, investigating officer, said: “A police officer is never off duty, and when he was approached on his way to work by two males and offered drugs the officer in this incident answered his duty, only to be threatened and robbed of his suitcase, which contained his uniform.
“Thankfully the officer suffered no injuries, and in fact continued on his way to work to help protect the people of London after the incident.
“Zielnski may well have thought he had got away with his crime but will now have a substantial amount of time to think about his actions.”
