We’ve heard of pulling a sicky but never a kidnap-py?…
This is certainly one we haven’t seen before. But there is a first time for everything.
Calling in sick for work is not a new phenomenon; however, faking your own disappearance in order to skive off work is something that we at JOE are not familiar with.
Mariusz Kaminski, who is originally from Poland, told his boss in 2017 that he had been taken by three men against his will, which led the police to open up an investigation into his disappearance and a search from Kaminski’s friends.
The 37-year-old chef, who lives in Wiltshire, sent a message to his boss explaining that he had been taken by the men, who forced him into the back of their white BMW.
Kaminski said that he managed to escape, before hiding in bushes and then going to hospital.
But, as it happened, the father-of-one had not been held captive at all. His intricate story was entirely false and had sent the messages to his boss from the safety of his own home.
Kaminski was convicted by a Swindon jury in February of perverting the course of justice and fraud by false representation.
He has since been sentenced to 16 months in prison for making up the far-fetched story.
During Kaminski’s trial, the court heard that he faced financial difficulties a few years ago and unfortunately had to declare himself bankrupt.
Kaminski failed to go to work a few times in October 2017, after discovering that one of his best friend’s had passed away.
He told his boss about his predicament and his growing debts on 27 October that year.
Less than 24 hours later, he faked his own disappearance and claimed that he had been held against his will by three men.
During mitigation, John Dyer asked Recorder Harris if they could impose a sentence that did not include immediate prison time, acknowledging the fact that Kaminski had been offered work and had since rebuilt a relationship with his wife and daughter.
Barrister John Dyer said in mitigation: “This is highly unusual, almost bizarre, unique. Mr Kaminski didn’t commit this offence to get other people into trouble, to incriminate an innocent party, to interfere with or fabricate evidence to prevent his own prosecution.
“He had this foolish lie thrust upon him.”
Dyer continued: “He was in too deep and couldn’t bring himself to own up.”
Recorder Harris explained that, despite the mitigation, she had to jail Kaminski for his offence.
