Deputy premier and interior and administration minister Grzegorz Schetyna told Polish Radio 3 Tuesday morning that he was surprised at the verdict by the British court on the Pole Jakub T. accused of assaulting and raping 49-year old Jane H. in June 2006.

On Monday, the court in Exeter sentenced the Pole to double life imprisonment.  Jakub T. will be able to apply for parole in 8 years time at the earliest.  The jury decided that he was guilty of raping and brutally beating the 49-year old British female.

The Polish deputy PM told the radio that he had closely followed media reports on the case and thought the attitudes towards the Polish defendant were “very positive”.  He added that the double life verdict came as a great shock to him.