By David Young-
A man has been imprisoned for attacking a railway officer.
In a disturbing incident of violence against law enforcement, Ryszard Hermanowski, 30, of Hampstead Road in Nottingham, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for assaulting and strangling a railway officer.
The shocking attack, which took place outside Nottingham railway station, highlights the dangers faced by emergency workers in the line of duty and underscores the urgent need for accountability and protection for those who serve and protect our communities.
Hermanowski was sentenced at Nottingham crown Court on 21 February to 16 months for intentional strangulation, as well as six months for assault by beating of an emergency worker to be served concurrently. He was also made to pay a £187 victim surcharge.
A second man also involved in the incident, David Zozulak, 45, and of Albany Road in Nottingham, was handed a 26-week prison sentenced suspended for two years and made to pay £439 for assaulting a police officer and obstructing a constable in execution of duty after pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates Court on 12 October 2023.
On Saturday 23 September 2023 at around 3.30pm, a BTP officer arrived for work to the adjacent BTP private car park to Nottingham railway station.
Hermanowski was stood outside of a taxi parked directly in front of the access gate, blocking entrance. The officer requested the car to be moved, and the taxi driver complied. Hermanowski however swore at the officer before approaching him in his car, while Zozluak began to urinate against a fence next to the access gate.
The officer got out of the car and asked him to stop, identifying himself as a police officer, and in response Hermanowski grabbed the collar of the officer, ripping his clothes, before punching him in the face and breaking his glasses. Zozulak was seen on CCTV punching the victim three times in the head.
Hermanowski proceeded to punch him two more times in the head, before placing him in a choke hold while Zozulak dragged him down to the floor behind the car. The court heard how the victim felt himself losing consciousness and started to fear for his life.
The pair continued to struggle before the officer managed to restrain Hermanowski with the help of a member of the public, and after Nottinghamshire Police arrived he was taken to custody. Zozulak left the scene but was later arrested.
In an interview with the police, Hermanowski admitted to being heavily intoxicated and claiming to not believe the victim to be a real police officer.
Investigating officer PC Christopher Simpson said: “The victim was an officer trying to do their job, making the railway a safer place for everyone, and this vile and ruthless assault was utterly unacceptable.
“I hope the sentence for Hermanowski sends out a clear message that anyone who assaults our officers will be dealt with, and violence toward those who work to make the railway safer will never be tolerated.”
The harrowing events unfolded on September 23, when a British Transport Police (BTP) officer arrived for duty at Nottingham railway station, only to be confronted by Hermanowski and his accomplice, David Zozulak, 45, of Albany Road in Nottingham. What began as a routine request to move a parked taxi quickly escalated into a violent altercation, leaving the officer battered and traumatized.
According to BTP, Hermanowski’s belligerent behavior escalated rapidly, with him verbally abusing the officer before physically assaulting him.
In a horrifying display of aggression, Hermanowski grabbed the officer by the collar, punched him repeatedly in the face, and proceeded to place him in a chokehold, leaving the victim fearing for his life. Meanwhile, Zozulak joined in the assault, delivering three blows to the officer’s head.
Despite the officer’s brave attempts to defend himself, the assailants continued their onslaught until assistance arrived from a member of the public. Hermanowski was eventually subdued and apprehended by Nottinghamshire Police, while Zozulak was later arrested after fleeing the scene.
In a statement to the police, Hermanowski admitted to being heavily intoxicated during the attack, claiming to have doubted the officer’s legitimacy. However, his reckless disregard for authority and wanton violence against a law enforcement officer cannot be excused or justified.
PC Christopher Simpson, the investigating officer, condemned the assault as “vile and ruthless,” emphasizing the bravery and dedication of the victim in the face of extreme danger.
He reiterated the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue justice for victims of violence and to ensure that those who perpetrate such acts are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.