Boss of hipster craft whisky distillery accused of murder conspiracy after ‘going on the run 20 years ago and starting new double life in London’ loses SECOND bid to be freed from jail ahead of extradition hearing

A hipster whiskey baron who led a double life London has lost a twenty-year bid to be released from prison for a second time for fear he will flee the country to start a new secret life.

Lucasz Ratajewski, 47, left Poland Twenty years ago, after being handed a three-year prison sentence for possessing a gun, he reinvented himself as Dariusz Plazewski, the high-flying boss of Bimber Distillery – one of the capital’s first producers of English single malt whiskey in more than 100 years.

The Polish national started life in London working in property development and construction, but launched his trendy whiskey production company in 2016, helped by his partner Ewelina Chruszczyk, and released Bimber’s first London single malt in 2019.

But his past came back to haunt him when he was arrested in England in January after Polish prosecutors requested his extradition to serve the three-year firearms sentence imposed on him in 2003 and face charges of conspiracy to murder and supplying drugs.

In February he has failed in attempt to be released on bail due to ‘flight risk’ stated.

Hipster whiskey baron Lucasz Ratajewski (right), who led a double life in London for 20 years, has lost a bid to be released from prison for a second time over fears he will flee the country

The 47-year-old Bimber Distillery – one of the first producers of English single malt whiskey in the capital for more than 100 years – under the alias Dariusz Plazewski

Now he has seen a second bid for freedom rejected by Mr Justice Fordham at the High Court – despite previously offering £200,000 as security – due to the ‘very real prospect’ of him repeating his act of disappearing, ‘a false identity document would obtain’. and build a new beginning from scratch in a completely new country.’

The court heard that Polish authorities had initially issued an arrest warrant for Mr Ratajewski 20 years ago, but he slipped away under his pseudonym and built a prosperous life in Britain.

He used his knowledge of traditional moonshine production, acquired from his father and grandfather, to launch a career in the English whiskey industry.

Bimber currently employs around 40 staff and had recently implemented plans to open a second distillery, Dunphail, in Speyside, Scotland, when the boss got into trouble with the law.

The 47-year-old was arrested on a Polish extradition warrant in connection with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion and theft.

After the arrest, Mr Ratajewski admitted he had been living under a false identity since arriving in Britain at the age of 26, but denied the charges against him.

A full extradition hearing will take place at Westminster Magistrates Court in September, but in the meantime his lawyers have gone to the High Court for a second time and urged his release on bail until that date.

Lawyers for the Polish Judicial Authority opposed the application, with barrister David Ball noting: ‘He ran away last time when his back was against the wall.’

But David Perry QC – standing for Mr Ratajewski – said the businessman had “every incentive” to face the extradition charges and remain rooted in his adopted homeland if he was granted bail.

As well as building the trendy drinks business, Mr Ratajewski has a partner and a teenage daughter who live with him in London, the lawyer said, and skipping bail would be a “complete catastrophe” for both his family and his business.

“With the life they have created, it is unthinkable that he would destroy it,” Perry told the judge.

‘He worked his way up from nothing to create an extremely successful company.’

Mr Ratajewski faces a full extradition hearing due to take place at Westminster Magistrates Court in September

Mr Ratajewski faces serious charges – which he denies – when he eventually returns to Poland.

These included a conspiracy to commit murder in 1997 by allegedly supplying an AK47 assault rifle and driving the getaway car for use in a collision that was only foiled by the presence of too many bystanders.

In addition, he is accused of conspiracy to supply cannabis, LSD and heroin, with the first charge dating back to 1998.

He fled Poland in 2004 while awaiting an appeal against his firearms conviction, which was ultimately dismissed in his absence.

Mr Ratajewski previously applied to the High Court for emergency bail in February, but his case was again dismissed by Mrs Justice Farbey due to the ‘flight risk’ involved.

His case returned to court when his QC insisted on his release on bail so that he could ‘get his affairs in order’ and also support his family.

Mr Ratajewski “led a life of deceit and subterfuge” in Britain, Mr Perry accepted, but insisted he went under the radar partly to cut his ties with former criminal associates in Poland.

While refusing bail, Mr Justice Fordham noted the security of £200,000 previously put forward by Mr Ratajewski, but concluded: ‘Having assessed the risks, and notwithstanding all these points raised on behalf of the appellant, I have come to the conclusion that there are significant reasons to believe that – if released on bail and despite the bail conditions – he will fail to surrender.’

The judge referred to the whiskey boss who escaped from Poland in 2004 while waiting for his appeal to be heard.

“It was an action that crossed boundaries,” he said. ‘It meant that I went to a completely new country with no connection. It meant starting a life all over again.”

In addition, he was grounded in London for 20 years, the judge said, adding: ‘It is a dishonest deception that lasted 20 years until the arrest in January this year.

‘Finally, all of these things emerge undeniably in the context of an individual who – on the face of it – has determination and resourcefulness.

“That comes with the very real prospect of associations that could help him, just as they did when he was able to obtain a fake ID in 2004 and build a new beginning from scratch in a completely new country.”

When Mr Ratajewski founded the Bimber Distillery in London, it became one of the few British-based distilleries in Britain, initially producing other spirits such as vodka and gin before specializing in whiskey – producing 50,000 bottles produced per year for the world market.

His company’s Scottish distillery is located on former farmland on the Dunphail estate, near Forres, which Mr Ratajewski spoke of would be transformed into a factory producing 200,000 bottles a year using traditional distilling methods.

Production started there last October.

He calls himself a “third-generation distiller,” having learned the art from his father and grandfather, who brewed moonshine spirits without modern industrial equipment, but often relied on “touch, smell and taste.”

In March, Mr Ratajewski’s pseudonym was removed from Bimber Distillery Ltd’s Companies House information as a person with significant control.

A statement was made on the company’s website following the initially failed bail application.

It read: ‘Dear valued customers, we would like to provide you with an important update on the leadership of our distilleries. Dariusz Plazewski has given up all his responsibilities for both the Bimber and Dunphail distilleries and is transferring all decision-making and operational matters to the existing, experienced teams.

“While we understand that news of his personal legal matters may raise questions and concerns, we want to assure you that our businesses remain fully operational and committed to serving you with the same level of excellence and dedication as ever.

‘Going forward, Bimber co-founder Ewelina Chruszczyk and Dunphail director of whiskey creation Matt McKay will co-lead the operations of both distilleries, drawing on their combined experience from both established companies.

‘They will work closely with our dedicated staff to ensure there is no disruption to our services or the quality of our products.

“Our management team, together with our employees, is fully capable of driving both companies forward and ensuring our ongoing operations run smoothly. Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time.”