Racist thug who battered homeless Polish man to death jailed for life

A racist thug has been jailed for at least 27 years after he brutally beat a homeless Polish man to death in his sleeping bag.

Grant Harding, 30, punched, kicked and stamped on Robert Jadecki, 44, in a ‘violent and unprovoked’ attack in Northampton in the early hours of June 16 last year.

The court heard how Harding went to the pub after finishing work earlier that day and messaged a friend saying he was going to get ‘out of his head’, ‘smack somebody’ and likely ‘end up in jail’.

Hours later, a heavily intoxicated Harding encountered Mr Jadecki in a sleeping bag outside the local co-op and offered to buy him a drink.

But upon hearing Mr Jadecki’s Polish accent Harding suddenly became violent and aggressive, launching a torrent of racial abuse at the helpless victim before kicking, punching and stamping him to death.

Witnesses said Harding could be heard repeatedly telling Mr Jadecki he was ‘going to kill him’ before being chased and detained by a brave onlooker, the Northampton Chronicle reports.

Speaking to the court, prosecutor Karim Khalil said Harding ‘knew what he was likely to do that night by taking drink and drugs but continued to do it nonetheless’.

Harding was found guilty of murder following a trial at Northampton Crown Court and was today jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 27 years.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Adrienne Lucking said the sentence reflected the fact the attack was racially motivated because Robert was Polish.

Detective Sergeant Robert Gray, from the Major Crime Team at the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said afterwards: ‘Robert Jadecki was a mild-mannered man who was well-thought of in the local community as well as by the Hope Centre.

‘He was assaulted by Grant Harding in a vicious and unprovoked attack so I am really pleased that Harding has been handed this lengthy prison sentence as a result.

‘Being homeless does not make Robert’s death any less important than anyone else’s, and again, we really want to highlight this point.

‘Hester Street was Robert’s home, and he was savagely beaten to death in his sleeping bag.

‘He didn’t deserve to die, and I am pleased that we have been able to give him the justice he deserves.’

The Hope Centre in Northampton is a day centre for homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged people where Robert often attended.

A spokesperson for the centre said after his death: ‘His senseless, tragic death has shocked us all deeply, not least in how it happened, but mostly because everyone who knew Robert felt warmth towards him.

‘He had an endearing, lovable side to him that nearly everyone responded to.

‘His death highlights once again the horrific risks people on the street face and I rejoice that working with other agencies, we have seen nearly all rough sleepers get off the street.

‘Robert was amongst a group of people who are the most excluded in our society, the most oppressed and the most abused.

‘Everyday people like Robert experience prejudice, hatred, contempt and ill treatment.

‘Society has to be more caring in helping people like Robert and protect them from the violence and fury they face’.

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