Racist raid on Travellers’ caravan in Mansfield sparked car chase and crash
A racist who took an air pistol to a planned raid on a Traveller’s caravan in Mansfield fled and crashed when he and his accomplices were chased away by the occupant, a court has heard.
Karol Barszczak texted, “I am going to f*** the Gypsies over in a moment,” to two other men before the racially-motivated attack on the night of May 31, 2023.
But they were chased away by a member of the Travelling community and tried to flee in a Lexus, said Mark Bates, prosecuting.
The pursuit ended when the Lexus collided with the vehicle driven by their intended victim in Mansfield town centre and Barszczak fled.
One of the co-accused, who has already been sentenced, pretended to be alone despite CCTV showing he wasn’t.
Police found an Airsoft gun on the back seat, and a box in the boot was connected to Barszczak by DNA.
A search of his address revealed ammunition for a .22 Remington hi-speed rifle.
Messages exchanged between the would-be raiders also linked them to the scene, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thurday. They had gathered weapons and taken a camera to film the incident.
Barszczak made no comment when he was interviewed by police.
Carina Clare, mitigating, said Barszczak, of previous good character, has been on a qualifying curfew.
“What you did caused fear and it caused the Traveller involved in this to leave the area,” Judge Steven Coupland told him. “Who had which weapon doesn’t matter as this is a joint offence. Courts will not tolerate people who seek to act this way out of hatred for others.”
The judge said Barszczak’s intention wasn't to cause harm but to cause damage.
“You have turned your life around in the last two-and-a-half years,” he said. “You have not committed any new offences. You are working hard and you are working well and you have a mortgage. The effects of an immediate sentence today wouldn't fall on you, they would fall on those around you.”
Barszczak, aged 28, of Stockwell Gate, Mansfield, admitted having an imitation firearm in a public place, via a Polish interpreter, at a previous hearing, after initalily denying the offence.
He received an 18 month community order, with 150 hours of unpaid work, and 25 rehabilitation days.