Man, 26, jailed for 'vengeful' attack on baby

Police said Radoslaw Zurek thought he had killed the baby and tried to kill himself

A man has been jailed for 16 years after what the judge described as a "vengeful" attack on a nine-month-old baby.

Radoslaw Zurek, 29, was arrested after police were called to a flat in Victoria Road, Northampton, and found both him and the child with serious injuries.

Northampton Crown Court heard that the baby's wounds were consistent with strangulation.

The investigating officer said Zurek thought he had murdered the baby and tried to kill himself.

Paramedics and police were called to the flat, which is near Northampton town centre, on 2 January this year. They found Zurek with serious self-inflicted wounds and the child in a baby bouncer covered with a blanket.

Northamptonshire Police said that one of their response officers "insisted on an immediate examination of the baby, which revealed marks on their face and neck".

Checks at the hospital revealed the baby had bruising around both sides of the neck and spots, called petechiae, on the face where capillaries had burst, consistent with strangulation.

Zurek was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Zurek was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Northampton Crown Court

He made no comment in his interview to the police and declined to give evidence at his trial at Northampton Crown Court in July.

He returned to court on 8 October and received a 16-year prison sentence.

The court was told Zurek, whose address was given as Victoria Road, had no previous convictions.

The attack was described by his lawyer as "an aberration" that happened while he was "in the grip of a depressive episode".

The court also heard the neck injury could have caused loss of consciousness within 10 seconds and death within a few minutes.

The baby was found with injuries in a flat on Victoria Road near Northampton town centre

Judge Robert Mayo, who sentenced Zurek, told him his mental state did not mean he was unable to make rational choices.

He said: "You still bear a degree of responsibility for your decision to kill [the baby] by strangulation."

After the hearing, the investigating officer, Det Con Emily Faulkner, said: “I’m glad it was recognised that, whilst Zurek was in a depressive state, the evidence still points to the fact he made a decision to kill this baby and, thinking the baby was dead, tried to kill himself.

“Our team is dedicated to safeguarding children and bringing those who cause harm to justice."