Man walks into shop and randomly punches woman at till

Jan Korzewski later said he had been blackout drunk

17:32, 17 May 2026

A man walked into a Cardiff convenience shop and randomly punched a customer. The woman was left with a chipped tooth from the bizarre and unprovoked attack.

Jan Korzewski, 42, told Cardiff Magistrates’ Court he could not remember the assault which took place on March 23 – his birthday – at a Londis branch in Fairwater. Prosecutor Laura Thomas said the victim, Elisha Thomas, had just paid for her items at the till when the defendant walked in and suddenly punched her with his right fist.

“He made contact with her right ear and cheek,” said Ms Thomas. “This caused her head to swing to the side, and chipped her front left tooth. There was also reddening to her ear and face.”

On arrest he “repeatedly apologised” to police and told them he had a problem with alcohol. The last thing he claimed to remember was leaving his address to go to the shop. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

Korzewski’s solicitor Vaughan Britton accepted it was “worrying” that his client could not remember carrying out the attack.

“It was an ugly, unnecessary incident,” Mr Britton told the court. “He is extremely remorseful. When he saw the CCTV he couldn’t believe what he had done. He was ashamed and felt sick about it.

“This offence occurred on his birthday. He had consumed a significant amount of vodka and had argued with his wife.

“There is no explanation or logic for what he did, having essentially gone into the store to buy more alcohol.”

The court heard Korzewski, of Beechley Drive in Fairwater, did not have previous convictions for assault but that there were 21 other offences on his record, most recently a 2024 case of criminal damage.

Mr Britton said the defendant grew up in Poland before moving to Ireland in 2004, then England in 2008, and finally Wales around a decade ago.

“His wife is from Aberdare and they have been married five or six years,” said the solicitor. “His background is in the construction industry and he has an adult son, aged 22, living in Poland.

“Mr Korzewski is the primary carer for his wife, who is in a wheelchair following a stroke. He was dealing with some pressures from that at the time of the offence. The stress caused him to turn to alcohol as a crutch.”

Passing sentence, Presiding Justice Norman Craggs said: “Mr Korzewski, in this civilisation we like to be able to go to shops and not be assaulted in the process.

“The victim on this occasion wasn’t so lucky. She did nothing wrong whatsoever. She was just standing there and you decided to throw a punch.

“However, this court is bound by new guidelines on whether we send people to prison or impose a community order. This matter is clearly in the community band and the probation service says it is prepared to work with you.”

Presiding Justice Craggs handed down an 18-month community order, a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement, 20 rehabilitation days, £250 in compensation to the victim, and £120 fine. “I ought to apologise,” the defendant told the magistrates before leaving the dock. “It’s not me, like.”

Presiding Justice Craggs replied: “For your next birthday, get a bag of Smarties.” In reply Korzewski gave a long and hearty laugh, which was met with polite smiles by the magistrates.

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