Serial stalker targeted Perth city centre workers

A serial stalker who targeted women in Perth city centre has been jailed for eight months.

Dariusz Baranowski, 42, left his victims "extremely distressed and absolutely terrified" during a series of unwanted approaches.

Baranowski pled guilty at Perth Sheriff Court to three charges of stalking, as well as a charge of communicating indecently, and assault, committed in 2024.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

Baranowski was also ordered to stay away from five named women for the next three years and told to keep out of a named pub for two years.

The court was told that Baranowski targeted a city centre worker and then frightened a pub worker by loitering around her workplace before approaching her four-year-old granddaughter in the street.

Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said Baranowski approached one of the women and asked her out on a date, but she laughed the incident off.

Hodgson said: "This did not disturb her, but it did bring the accused to her attention."

The fiscal said Baranowski appeared to be drunk when he approached her again a few days later.

She said: "He took his headphones off and put them on the complainer's head.

"He attempted to dance with her. She became embarrassed and nervous about the accused's demeanour."

The court was told that Baranowski approached her a further time and made a sexual remark towards her.

Hodgson said the woman was left "extremely distressed, embarrassed and humiliated" and immediately reported the matter to her supervisor.

Baranowski later approached a female council worker in Perth on three occasions in the same month.

The court heard how the experience left the woman "extremely scared" and "intimidated by the repetitive nature of his actions.

"She was particularly upset by the apparent sexual interest he had shown in her."

The court heard how a member of staff at a local homeless hostel felt "extremely distressed and felt threatened" while he was going over paperwork with her.

Baranowski also preyed on a staff member at a Perth city centre pub he had previously been barred from.

She saw him on several occasions standing outside the bar, including first thing in the morning.

The court also heard Baranowski assaulted a man outside a Turkish barbers shop by approaching him and trying to strike him with a bottle, forcing shop staff to intervene.