In a story that’s hard to believe, a wanted man took his time getting caught! Daniel Niewiadomski, wanted for robbing a Swansea convenience store, hid out in an attic and refused to come down until he’d finished smoking his crack pipe. His bizarre standoff with the police unfolded after a dramatic incident where he stormed into a Nisa shop, attacked the shopkeeper with a wine bottle, and claimed to have a knife. His partner-in-crime, Samantha Turner, played the lookout, waiting by the door.
Following the robbery, the pair tried to lay low, but police tracked them down. Turner was nabbed on a street the next day, while Niewiadomski was found hiding in the loft of a house in Port Tennant. The police, however, had to wait for him to finish his smoke before he descended to meet them!
The duo faced Swansea Crown Court, where their long list of previous offences was laid bare. Niewiadomski, with a string of convictions from shoplifting to heroin dealing, pleaded guilty to robbery and is now facing 45 months in jail. Turner, who had a history of drug possession and theft, got a seven-month sentence. Both will serve part of their time in prison and the rest under community supervision.
This tale of crime and evasion highlights the struggles of addiction and the lengths some will go to fuel their habits. With Turner looking to turn over a new leaf through rehab, perhaps there’s hope beyond the headlines for a fresh start.