Crime | Posted on May 8th, 2026 | return to news

Jail for Bournemouth man who assaulted wheelchair user

Members of the public came to the woman’s aid and assisted in apprehending the offender prior to police arriving minutes later.

0:00 / 0:00

A Bournemouth man who attacked a wheelchair user was sentenced to two years and six months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court.

At around 8.45pm on Friday 19 September 2025, the victim, who was 89 at the time, was leaving a restaurant in Haven Road and was in a wheelchair due to a recent hip operation.

A man appeared carrying a large wooden bat and lunged towards the woman, pushing her to the ground and causing her to fall out of her wheelchair.

Members of the public immediately came to the woman’s aid and assisted in apprehending the offender prior to police arriving minutes later.

Miroslaw Kochaniec, 46, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The victim was taken to hospital and treated for injuries to her face and head, as well as her fingers, and swelling to her knee. It was subsequently reported that she had sustained a bleed to her brain.

Detective Constable Charlotte Bailey, of BCP CID, said: “This was a completely unprovoked assault on a vulnerable elderly woman that has had a lasting physical and emotional impact on the victim.

“I want to thank members of the public who came to her aid following the incident and also assisted in detaining the offender, which ensured he was promptly arrested and could be held accountable for his actions.”