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*Content warning - this story contains details some may find distressing*
A Northampton man has been convicted by a jury of attempting to murder a baby.
Radoslaw Zurek, aged 28, was found guilty at Northampton Crown Court on Monday, July 8, following a six-day trial.
On the evening of January 2, 2024, Northamptonshire Police was called by the ambulance service to a flat in Victoria Road, Northampton, over concerns for the welfare of a man there.
Inside, paramedics had found Zurek in the bathroom with self-inflicted wounds, alongside a nine-month-old child found in a baby bouncer covered with a blanket.
While Zurek received emergency treatment and was taken to hospital, one of the responding officers, PC Tim Walker, had the foresight to insist on an immediate examination of the baby which revealed marks on the child’s face and neck.
Extensive checks at hospital found the baby had bruising around both sides of the neck and petechiae on the face where capillaries had burst, consistent with strangulation.
On January 3, officers attended hospital and arrested Zurek on suspicion of attempted murder. He asked them about the child and wept when told they were safe and well.
Zurek went on to be charged with the attempted murder of a child under one year old, appearing before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on January 6 where he was remanded into custody with the case sent to crown court for trial.
On July 1 this began at Northampton Crown Court, where the jury heard how the incident had occurred following the breakdown of Zurek’s relationship.
Having given a no comment interview to police, Zurek also did not give evidence at his trial.
The jury found him guilty of attempted murder and he was remanded into custody to await sentencing on a date yet to be set.
Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Emily Faulkner of the Force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit West, said: “This incident was incredibly distressing for all involved, but thankfully the baby has suffered no lasting injuries.
“It’s clear Radoslaw Zurek was suffering with depression when he committed this offence, but that can never be an excuse for trying to cause such terrible harm to a totally defenceless baby.
“The family involved have obviously been deeply affected by this incident, with the only consolation being that the child was too young to remember what happened.
“I hope this guilty verdict brings some closure to the nightmare situation caused by Zurek’s actions.
“Northamptonshire Police is dedicated to protecting children from harm and I am very pleased that our work on this case has enabled justice to be done for this baby.”
She added her thanks to all those who had worked on the investigation, including case builder Georgia Webb, Force analyst Caitlin Perry, and digital media investigator DC Simon Chamberlain.
Detective Chief Inspector Jen Castle, who leads the Force’s Protecting Vulnerable People command, added: “As highlighted by the prosecution, DC Faulkner’s work on this case has been outstanding from the date of the offence through to the end of the trial. I would like to thank her for her thoroughness and dedication in the pursuit of justice for this young child.”