Two men sentenced for homophobic assault on Gospel Oak couple

Two men were sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 29 July 2026 for assaulting a gay couple on Mansfield Road in Gospel Oak, Camden, nearly a year earlier. Mariusz Smietana, 46, of Wembley, and Dariusz Wawrzenczyk, 37, of Tottenham, were convicted of assault by beating after chasing the couple, spitting at them, and hurling homophobic slurs in Polish. The attack occurred shortly after 10 pm on 1 July 2025 as the victims walked home from the Highgate Men’s Ponds.

District Judge Vanessa Lloyd ruled the offence was aggravated by hostility based on sexual orientation. The court heard the couple had been holding hands when the defendants approached, spat on them, and shouted abuse. Smietana then chased the victims while throwing fruit he had taken from a shop without paying, as reported by the Ham & High. The couple called 999 and took refuge in a nearby pub before police arrested the attackers.

Read Next in News London4 min read

Bleecker Burger opens Camden branch after winning world’s best title

The burger chain’s tenth London site will occupy two units in Middle Yard from this summer

Impact on the victims

Alex Grant, 34, and his 32-year-old partner, who wished to remain anonymous, provided victim impact statements in court. The anonymous partner, who moved to the UK from Turkey to live openly as a gay man, said the attack had altered his sense of safety. He told the court he now plans routes home and questions whether it is safe to walk openly with his partner, as reported by This Is Local London.

Since the attack, walking at night with my partner no longer feels as normal or safe as it did before. Whenever we go somewhere, I find myself thinking about how we will get home, which route we should take, and whether it is safe for us to walk together openly.

Victim, 32, who wished to remain anonymous

Related Borough Coverage4 min read

Aaron Parker sentenced for exposing himself at Shortlands station

Hither Green man receives community order with rehabilitation and unpaid work after March 2025 offences

Grant said the attack left him visibly shaken and unable to sleep. He described the evening as one that began with swimming on a summer night but ended in fear. Both victims reported ongoing anxiety about encountering the defendants again in the area.

Sentencing and background

Judge Lloyd sentenced both men to community orders lasting one year. Each must complete 180 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activities. They were also ordered to pay £325 in costs and a £114 surcharge, totalling £439 each. The court heard they could pay the sums at a rate of £100 per month. No compensation was awarded to the victims, with the judge stating no amount could adequately address the harm caused.

The defendants, who represented themselves and required a Polish interpreter, did not present mitigating evidence during the hearing. Judge Lloyd noted written submissions from Smietana detailing personal difficulties, including the loss of an unborn child, his partner’s health issues, and alcohol use. However, she said neither defendant had shown remorse, as both continued to deny responsibility for the attack.

The court heard Smietana had a 2015 caution for shoplifting, while Wawrzenczyk was extradited to Poland in 2023 for a non-conviction disposal related to assaulting an emergency worker. Probation reports assessed the risk of reoffending as low, based on their ages and lack of previous convictions.

What happens next

Smietana and Wawrzenczyk must comply with their community orders, including unpaid work and rehabilitation activities. Failure to do so could result in further court action. Camden Council and local LGBTQ+ organisations have not announced additional safety measures for Gospel Oak, but residents can report concerns to the Metropolitan Police or local community safety teams.