Mineral collector convicted of recklessly damaging a protected Newton Stewart geological site
Rare minerals were also illegally extracted from another site near New Cumnock.
A mineral collector has been convicted of recklessly damaging protected geological sites near Newton Stewart and New Cumnock.
This has been described as a first-of-its-kind case in Scotland.
Dagmara Lesiow Lasczcewski was found guilty of three charges at Paisley Sheriff Court on July 28th, 2025, after removing rare minerals with a hammer and selling them at their shop in Glasgow.
The offences involved the damage and removal of mineralised rock at the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), which are historically significant due to their mining history.
Two of the targeted sites were Fountainhead SSSI, near New Cumnock, East Ayrshire and Talnotry Mine SSSI, near Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway.
The minerals extracted from Fountainhead SSSI included rare stibnite – a silvery-grey blade-shaped mineral which isn’t found anywhere else in Scotland.
The specimens extracted from these “vulnerable sites” were advertised online for sale at Ms Lasczcewski’s shop in Glasgow, the Caledonia Rock Shop.
The Court was shown photos as evidence from social media posts, placing her at the scene, with the intent to commit these crimes.
Efforts are being made to restore the illegally removed minerals from the SSSIs, to their rightful owners.