Sentencing of Heacham man who harrassed women pushed back due to his mental health

The sentencing of a Heacham man who admitted harassing two women and using threatening language has been pushed back due to his mental health.

Dainius Smulkys, 36, of Station Road, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was due to be sentenced for four offences.

While in court, he also admitted breaching a restraining order he was given in 2023 ordering him not to go to Tesco Express in Heacham - which he breached on January 25.

Smulkys previously admitted two counts of harassment without violence.

In Hunstanton between May 27 2023 and June 20 2023, he sat next to a woman on the bus and made her feel uncomfortable by making inappropriate comments.

Between those dates, he also made comments that made her feel uncomfortable outside her place of work.

Between June 6 and June 12 2023, he would not let go of another woman’s arm and referred to her as “sexy”.

He was also due to be sentenced on August 20 for using threatening words to cause alarm or distress and on July 13, he admitted having cannabis on him.

Smulkys’ solicitor Charlotte Winchester explained that he has previously been sectioned and is currently receiving treatment for his mental health.

“Clearly, he has been mentally unwell, he was made subject to a two-month section,” said Ms Winchester.

“I saw him in January when he attended court wearing a dressing gown and slippers, he wrote notes up his hand and arm and concerns were raised and he is a different person today.”

She urged magistrates to revoke the community order that was put in place and instead let Smulkys continue to receive help for his mental health.

Magistrates put a defer sentence order in place for 90 days, ordering Smulkys to return to court on August 22.

As part of this order, Smulkys must continue to engage with community mental health teams, take his required medication and abstain from taking drugs or alcohol.