20.08.2025 12:10
A 27-year-old police officer, Marcin Zielinski, serving in the Hertfordshire region of England, was sentenced to four months in prison for stealing women's underwear from a house. The victim, Lea-Ann Sullivan, stated that as a result of the trauma she experienced, she threw away all her underwear and became fearful of police officers after the incident. It was noted that Zielinski's actions, which led to his resignation after the incident, significantly harmed the reputation of the police force.
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A police officer in England stealing women's underwear from a house he entered during duty has caused a huge backlash. The incident deeply affected the victim and her family.
27-year-old police officer Marcin Zielinski was caught on security camera rummaging through drawers at Lea-Ann Sullivan's home while on duty in the Hertfordshire area on September 12, 2024. Zielinski put a piece of the woman's underwear in his pocket.
The officer, who admitted to theft and abuse of police authority in court, was sentenced to four months in prison. However, the victim Lea-Ann claims that this sentence is too lenient and that her life has been turned upside down.
"Since that day, I have cried, laughed, and gotten angry. I feel vulnerable and scared. I feel nauseous. Why did he take it, what was he going to do with it, who else did he steal from?" she said.
Due to the trauma she experienced, Lea-Ann threw away all her underwear and drawers. The biggest impact was on her autistic daughter. The little girl became so afraid of the police after the incident that she says she doesn't want to ask for help even if she gets into trouble.
Lea-Ann stated, "My trust in the police is completely gone. Even my daughter is scared. She feels uneasy when she sees police officers."
On the night of the incident, while the mother was detained for a different reason, her husband Grant watched the camera footage at the door. The footage clearly showed the officer taking the underwear from the drawer and putting it in his pocket. Grant immediately went to the police station to report the incident.
Even more humiliating was that the victim was asked to identify her own underwear at the police station. Fifteen pieces of underwear were found from Zielinski's home, but none belonged to Lea-Ann. Still, the footage prevented the officer from denying his guilt.
Lea-Ann believes the sentence given is not sufficient:
"Four months is very little. He should have stayed in prison longer. This could happen to others as well. What if he had done this to an elderly or disabled woman? What if he had gone further?"
While the investigation is ongoing, the Hertfordshire Police also made a statement regarding the officer who resigned in November 2024. Deputy Chief Genna Telfer stated, "Zielinski betrayed both the public and the organization. His behavior has greatly damaged the reputation of the police."
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