A 34-year old man who abducted a seven-year old girl who was playing in the front garden of her home in Lurgan was sentenced today (Tuesday).
Marek Burieta was handed a global sentence of 33 months for three offences he committed last June.
From Spelga Park in Lurgan, he was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Patrick Lynch KC who divided the sentence equally between prison and licence.
The court heard that on June 28, 2023 the child was playing with some friends and her younger sister in the front garden of her home.
Burieta – who was unknown to the family – was drunk and he approached the children and asked if they wanted to go for pizza and ice cream.
A neighbour in the Brookehill area saw Burieta down on his hunkers talking to the children then she witnessed him taking the seven-year old by the hand and walking her down the street.
Burieta then lifted the girl into his arms which prompted the neighbour to run down the street and scream at him to put the child down.
The neighbour took the child from Burieta, he replied ‘ok’ and when she told him she was going to call the police, he made off.
The child was then returned to her mother – who had been inside her house – by the neighbour.
The police were alerted, Burieta was arrested and during a search he was found to have a knife with an 11-inch blade in his backpack.
As he was en route to the PSNI station, Burieta assaulted a female constable in the police vehicle.
He stroked her hands, laughed at her, licked his lips, pushed his hands towards her groin area and said he liked her and that she had nice hair.
He was charged with child abduction, possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting a police officer and during an interview, the Slovakian national denied abducting the youngster.
A trial date was set and during the second day of the hearing this June, he changed his stance and pleaded guilty.
A defence barrister told Judge Lynch said that the abduction amounted to Burieta taking her “for a number of steps” and that he “immediately released her” when challenged by the neighbour.
The barrister added that Burieta was intoxicated at the time, that there was no pre-meditation – and that he had a “completely clear” criminal record.
The court also heard that Burieta is estranged from his parents as he abandoned his studies for ‘drink and women’.
During today’s sentencing, Judge Lynch complimented the neighbour for her “public spiritedness in intervening.”
He also spoke of the affects the incident has had not just on the child but also to her mother and younger sister.
Referencing a Victim Impact Statement made by the child’s mother, Judge Lynch revealed that the girl now has trouble sleeping and her younger sister has expressed fears of being ‘stolen or killed’.
The child’s mother said the incident left her feeling unsafe and traumatised and she has considered moving from the area.
Addressing Burieta, the Judge told him: “Your actions, whatever you meant by them, has had that affect upon totally innocent individuals.
“You have caused harm here and that harm cannot be undone by any action by this court.”
Judge Lynch imposed a 27-month sentence on the charges of child abduction and possessing the knife.
An additional six-month consecutive sentence was imposed for the “vile” assault on the police officer.
He also granted a Crown application for the destruction of the knife.
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