EXCLUSIVE: Priest wanted in Poland over historic alleged sex offences against underage girls arrested on Isle of Man

A FORMER priest wanted in connection with a string of historic alleged sex offences against young girls has been arrested and faces extradition after he was found on the Isle of Man.

Father Arseniuk Slawomir, 55, is accused by the Polish authorities of 25 sexual assaults against five girls aged under 16 that he was allegedly teaching music to over nine years from September 2006 to September 2015.

He was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) from Poland and brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The former priest did not consent to be extradited and was remanded into custody ahead of a full hearing.

An NCA spokesperson said: "He was arrested on the Isle of Man on 16 June 2025 and appeared at Westminster Mags the following day and remanded until the next appearance."

According to Polish media reports Father Arseniuk allegedly abused music students at the Parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Siedlce, near Warsaw.

He has been wanted on a EAW and an Interpol Red Notice since the District Prosecutor's Office in Siedlce began investigating the priest in February 2022, according to local reports.

He is understood to have left Poland after being summoned by the prosecutor's office and has been wanted since 2023.

It is not clear when or how he entered the UK, but the Polish authorities argue he should be returned to "face justice."

On September 25 2015, just two weeks after the most recent offence was said to have occurred, he led a prayer vigil at the Holy Trinity Church in Janów Podlaski, to mark World Youth Day, according to local reports.

The priest was a regular in the Polish press in connection with his involvement with youth choirs in the church.

A translated report in the Super Express dated May 17 2024, said: "Father Sławomir Arseniuk, from the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Siedlce, has been wanted by the prosecutor's office in Lublin since last year on charges of molesting minors during music classes.

"He led them at the Siedlce cathedral church. In recent days, the so-called Interpol red notice, the highest category for pursuing criminals worldwide, was added to the wanted list.

"The former priest is wanted for sexual offences with minors under the age of 15 or committing another sexual act against such a person or causing them to submit to such acts or to perform them, but also causing another person by force, unlawful threat or deceit to submit to another sexual act or to perform such an act."

According to the EAW he is wanted for eight alleged sexual touching offences against one girl between September 1 and November 16 2007.

There is one alleged offence against another girl between July 1 and September 19 2008 and nine alleged offences against a third girl from July 1 2008 to October 25 2010.

There is one alleged offence against a fourth girl between January 1 and December 31 2012 and a further six alleged offences against a fifth victim between January 1 2012 and September 11 2015.

At a second hearing at the court on Tuesday<June24>the case was adjourned until next month. A full extradition hearing is likely to be a number of months away.