Fugitive from Poland wins extradition battle after judge tells court ‘he’s a young man with an unfortunate background’
Judge rules Karol Cieczka, 29, should go free after Polish authorities took too long to issue extradition order
A FUGITIVE from Poland who moved to the UK and “transformed” his life has won his extradition battle.
Polish judicial authorities had issued European arrest warrants for the return of Karol Cieczka for old criminal offences.
The 29-year-old has lived in England for seven years, in both Mildenhall and Ipswich.
Cieczka is wanted by the regional court in Lublin to complete jail sentences imposed for offences committed when he was 17 and 18.
But the extradition order was blocked by Mr Justice Mitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court after the court heard there was an unexplained six-year delay before the warrants were certified.
Speaking to the court, the judge described Cieczka as a "a young man with an unfortunate background" who had successfully put the past behind him after moving to the UK.
Mr Justice Mitting said Cieczka had worked hard, fostered a relationship with a partner and their child, all the while living a “useful and blameless life”.
Cieczka had been sentenced for a series of offences, including repeated attempts to rob the same person, and burglary.
He was in police custody for a number of months, before being released on strict conditions.
The 29-year-old still has one year and eight months to serve behind bars for his robbery offences, and four months for burglary charges.
While Polish authorities told the National Crime Agency Cieczka was in the UK in 2009, there was a whopping six-year delay before the arrest warrants were certified.
No explanation has been given as to why.
Discharging Cieczka, Mr Justice Mitting said: "This is a case which cried out for an explanation of the delay."
The central issue in the case was focused on whether Cieczka’s extradition would be incompatible with his right to a family and private life under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
The judge explained Cieczka’s rights had to be weighed up in the balance against the need to honour extradition arrangements with other countries.
He ruled the delay in seeking the 29-year-old Pole's return, and subsequent lack of explanation for it, was significant enough to tip the balance in the favour of allowing Cieczka’s appeal against extradition.
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