Man made threat to kill cable TV salesman

A customer has beensentenced for falsely imprisoning a cable TV salesman and threatening to kill him after waiting at home for two days for an engineer from the company to show up.

Dariusz Pelc, aged 38, threatened to cut the salesman’s fingers off and later told him he would kill him if his broadband was not installed within 24 hours.

He was given a four-year suspended sentence but ordered to return to his native Poland to serve an outstanding two-year sentence for threatening behaviour.

His co-accused Lukasz Pietruch, aged 31, who assaulted the salesman, was sentenced to three months which was suspended on condition he gave €1,750 compensation to the victim.

Pelc, of Old Court Lodge, Firhouse, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and making threats. Pietruch, of Ballymount Cottages, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to assault.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring promised to jail Pelc if he got into trouble on his return to Ireland. She said it was understandable that he was frustrated at UPC’s behaviour but his response was completely inappropriate.

She noted Pietruch played a smaller role in the incident but said he should have tried to restrain his friend Pelc.

Garda Emer Tomkins told prosecuting counsel Maurice Coffey that the victim, Albert Kazmierczak, aged 24, worked with UPC Telecoms selling TV and internet packages door to door.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that on Apr 13, 2010, the salesman cold-called to the home of Pelc at Old Court Lodge, Firhouse, and offered to sign him up to a broadband and TV package.

Pelc handed over details of his wife’s passport and his bank account and agreed to set up a direct debit for €50 a month. Mr Kazmierczak told the Polish father of one that an engineer would call to install the broadband on Apr 19 and that he should stay at home.

The court heard that Pelc became frustrated after taking two days off work to wait for the cable engineer who never showed up.

Pelc came to the conclusion that Mr Kazmierczak was a “cowboy” fraudster who had conned him and he came up with a plan to confront the salesman.

Pelc got a female friend to call the victim and pretend she wanted to buy broadband. She asked Mr Kazmierczak to call to a house at Ballymount Cottages in Clondalkin.

When Mr Kazmierczak came into the house, Pelc and three other men, including Pietruch, told him he was not going anywhere until he sorted out Pelc’s broadband.

Garda Tomkins said that when the victim tried to get up and leave, Pietruch pushed him back in the chair and held him against his will. The “traumatic” ordeal lasted about 40 minutes.

The court heard that Pelc has no previous convictions here but is wanted in Poland to serve a sentence in relation to an incident involving the threatening use of violence.

Pietruch has four previous convictions, all for road traffic matters.