Three men have today been jailed at the Old Bailey for their roles in the kidnap, brutal torture and murder of a Polish man, whose body was found dumped in a field in Northamptonshire.
The remains of Andrzej Kulesza, aged 27, were discovered in a field near Rothersthorpe on April 25, 2011, by a dog walker. A ligature was found around his neck.
Police believed he was hunted down by his killers because he owed a drug debt, before he was then kidnapped, beaten with a metal bar, spat on and force fed amphetamines.
Kamil Dreszer (pictured, above right), aged 27, of Greenhill Park, Willesden, was yesterday found guilty of murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and preventing the lawful burial and disposal of a corpse. He was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 22 years
Artur Janik (pictured left) aged 27, of Willowmead Close, Goldsworth Park, Woking, was found guilty of manslaughter, kidnapping, false imprisonment and preventing the lawful burial and disposal of a corpse and was today sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
Daniel Kosowski (pictured centre), aged 40, of Henry Adlington Close, London, was found guilty of preventing the lawful burial and disposal of a corpse and was today jailed for 30 months.
Mr Kulesza was reported missing by his girlfriend after leaving home in Stamford Hill, London, at about 8am on September 19, 2010. He said he was going out to buy milk and bread at the local shop but never returned home.
The court heard Mr Kulesza was a drug dealer who sold cannabis and amphetamines and was in debt to a man called Grzegorz Misiak. He “feared for his safety” before his disappearance.
A group of men, including Dreszer, then forced their way into the home of a friend of Mr Kulesza’s at around 4am on September 19, 2010, where they beat him with a bicycle lock, knocking out two teeth and threatened him with a knife as they tried to hunt down Mr Kulesz.
The men stole the friend’s mobile phone and used it to call two more people in the hunt.
They finally sent a text message to the victim, luring him out, before he was kidnapped and taken to a property in Greenhill Park, London.
Police evidence indicated Mr Kulesza was then beaten with a metal bar, spat on and force-fed amphetamines and alcohol while inside the address.
He was ordered to do press-ups and when he couldn’t, he was beaten again.
The victim’s girlfriend was finally told he had been kidnapped and a ransom was demanded.
The court heard she was then contacted by Mr Kulesza, who pleaded with her to help him and provide cash. He was crying and screaming and said his kidnappers were threatening to kill him.
The victim’s girlfriend borrowed £300 from a friend and handed over the cash to another man at a rendezvous point off the North Circular, in Edmonton.
Promises were made that Mr Kulesza would be released but more demands for cash were then made and a further £500 was demanded but then the calls abruptly ended.
In the early hours of September 21, 2010, detectives believe Janik, Kosowski, Dreszer and another man collected the victim’s body and travelled to Northamptonshire, where they dumped it before returning to London.
A member of the public walking her dog found his remains in a field near the A43 at Rothersthorpe more than six months later, on April 25, 2011, hidden by elephant grass.
An entire skeleton was pieced together and DNA tests proved it was Mr Kulesza.
A post mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death but there were several fractures to the bones and a ligature - a black webbing strap - was round the neck.
Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “The three defendants, seeking revenge for a debt, kidnapped and tortured the victim before dumping his body in a remote location, presumably imagining it would never be found.
“They acted in an appalling manner and one can only imagine the physical and emotional trauma Andrzej suffered during the hours he was held captive. I am satisfied at today’s convictions.”