Man slashed on neck in Inverness city centre

Police were told a knifeman needed to kill because he felt safe in prison after being human trafficked.

The confession came soon after Piotr Antoszak (40) slashed a man’s neck in Lombard Street, Inverness on May 21.

After cutting his victim’s neck, he said: “You have one second.”

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Milosz Cywisnki feared for his life but only suffered a minor laceration in the attack.

Sheriff Sara Matheson was told that Antoszak, who admitted assault to injury, had been psychiatrically assessed and was now in a central Scotland secure unit.

She deferred sentence for a background report, having read a mental health report which was compiled last month.

First offender Antoszak was again remanded in custody to the secure unit until September 28 and defence solicitor Willie Young reserved his comments until then.

Fiscal depute Sharon Ralph told the court that Mr Cywinski had been out socialising with two friends and had gone for something to eat in a Lombard Street takeaway.

Mrs Ralph said: “The trio were sitting on a bench when Antoszak approached Mr Cywinski from behind, putting his arms around his neck, and pressed the knife to his neck causing a laceration. Mr Cwyinski grabbed the accused’s arm and struggled with him for several seconds until his friends came to his assistance.”

Mrs Ralph added that one of Mr Cwyinski’s pals pulled him away from Antoszak while the other grappled with him.

“Mr Cywinski fled the scene in fear while the other two continued to grapple with Antoszak, resulting in him being disarmed. One of the friends placed the knife in a nearby bin.”

The incident was captured on CCTV and police found Antoszak lying on the ground.

Antoszak told police after being charged: “I need to kill to go to prison because I was human trafficked and prison is safe for me.”