Neighbour: Krezolek ‘grabbed me from my collar’

(Video has been removed for legal reasons).

Magdelena Luczak and her partner Mariusz Krezolek have been found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of murdering four-year-old Daniel Pelka.

A neighbour who lived next-door to the house Daniel Pelka lived in with his mother and her partner has described being physically assaulted by Mr Krezolek.

The neighbour and his wife, who did not want to be identified, had spent seven months renovating their home and the noise had apparently caused Mr Krezolek considerable frustration.

He would frequently complain, yell violent threats at the workers, and threatened to kill one of the men doing the drilling.

Then one day, he grabbed him by the neck and threw him against his own wall.

He said he regretted not pressing charges against Mr Krezolek after he was assaulted.

He said the couple apologised to him, and explained they were both feeling depressed and stressed at the time.

He added that soon after Mr Krezolek apologised, he came around again threatening him. The neighbour said he regrets being so forgiving.

“I am regretting this now. I am sorry for those kids. I am sorry for them. I feel like if I done it, then it could be different story.”

The neighbour's wife described Daniel as a very sweet, very happy child, on the occasions she seen him.

She said: “I remember the first time I saw him, he just touched my heart, so when I went to visit him again I brought some sweets and toys for him. He was really happy about that, and then when I would see him, he would always wave at me. He was a lovely boy, a really lovely boy.”

They also described frequent violent outbursts they witnessed involving Ms Luczak and her partner.

On one occasion, Mr Krezolek slapped her across the face in the middle of the street, and when challenged by neighbours, dragged her inside the house and shut the door as the children watched.

The screaming and arguing then continued indoors, according to the neighbours.