A DUMBARTON woman who was found in contempt of court after the trial of a man accused of assaulting her was deserted by the Crown has been warned she risks going to prison.

Ana Cichy was told to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in the community for the offence – and left court with a warning that she’s likely to be jailed if she fails to comply with the order.

Cichy, 41, was the principal witness in the trial in October of 37-year-old Adam Koprowski, who had been charged with assaulting her by punching her on the head at an address in the town’s Ashton View in January.

But the case was deserted simpliciter – the legal term for bringing a prosecution to an end without the facts being determined – by the Crown on November 4.

Cichy, who was listed in court papers as living at another address in Ashton View, appeared in court for sentencing on the contempt charge on December 1, after background reports were sought following the collapse of Koprowski’s trial.

Her solicitor, Peter Young, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court on December 1 that he had discussed in detail with his client the sentencing options available to the court.

“She accepts she was guilty of contempt of court on the last occasion,” Mr Young told Sheriff Simon Pender. “One of the disposals available is a period of imprisonment, but I would be inviting your lordship to consider an alternative disposal.

“I’ve explained to her that whatever I say to you, if you were minded to decide to impose a community payback order, you have to ask the accused person if they are prepared to accept such an order.”

Sheriff Pender – who also presided over Koprowski’s aborted trial – told Cichy: “This is a serious matter. Your conduct when you attended court as a witness was largely responsible for the case having to be discontinued by the Crown.

“A contempt of court of this nature often leads to a custodial sentence. However, given the terms of the background report, what has been said on your behalf today, and given that you have no previous convictions, I’m prepared to deal with this matter by way of a direct alternative to a custodial sentence. That is what you can expect if you do not comply.”

Cichy, who communicated through an interpreter, was made the subject of a community payback order with an 18-month supervision requirement, and told to carry out the unpaid work within 12 months.

Asked if she understood what she had been told by the sheriff, she said, through her interpreter: “Well, I’m not going to prison.”

Asked again if she understood what she had been told, and if she was prepared to accept the order, she eventually said that she did.