Racist battered homeless man to death in 'unprovoked' attack because he was Polish
A racist who battered a homeless man to death as he lay in his sleeping bag because he was Polish has been jailed for life.
Grant Harding punched, kicked and stamped on Robert Jadecki, 44, in an "animalistic, brutal and vicious" assault in Northampton in the early hours of 16 June last year.
A court heard the 30-year-old launched the unprovoked attack after offering Jadecki a drink as he sat outside a shop and heard his Polish accent.
Witnesses said Harding launched a torrent of racist abuse at Jedecki before beating him to death while screaming that he was "going to kill him".
The victim was taken to University Hospital Coventry with serious injuries but died later that day.
Harding was arrested nearby after being chased and detained by a member of the public.
Harding was found guilty of murder following a trial at Northampton Crown Court and on Friday was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years.
Judge Adrienne Lucking said the sentencing reflected the racial motivation behind the attack.
"The last moments of Robert Jadecki's conscious life were filled with pain and fear. You chose to put yourself in that violent state of mind.
"You pose a very real risk of causing further serious offences."
The court heard how Harding finished work that day, went to the pub and told a friend he was going to get "out of his head", "smack somebody" and likely "end up in jail".
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Prosecutor Karim Khalil said the defendant "knew what he was likely to do that night by taking drink and drugs but continued to do it nonetheless".
By midnight, Harding was heavily intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine and went to the Co-op shop where he saw the "defenceless" Jedecki in a sleeping bag.
Detective Sergeant Robert Gray described Jadecki as a "mild-mannered man who was well-thought of in the local community".
He said: "Being homeless does not make Robert's death any less important than anyone else's, and again, we really want to highlight this point."
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Jadecki was also known and loved at the Hope Centre in Northampton – a day facility for homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
A spokesperson for the centre said: "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.
"Every day 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."
