A man who said he wanted to “kill a Muslim” before he drove his van into an Indian restaurant has been released from prison after serving his 33-week sentence on remand.

Marek Zakrocki, of Alexandra Avenue, Harrow, went on an alcohol-fuelled rampage through the town centre culminating in him crashing into Spicy Night restaurant in Alexandra Parade.

A court heard how, on 23 June 2017, the 48-year-old had downed two bottles of wine before grabbing his wife forcefully and telling her and his daughter he was going to attack a religious building with the intention of harming a Muslim.

In a phone call with a police officer, he said: “I'm going to kill a Muslim. I'm doing this for Britain.

“This is the way I am going to help the country. You people can't do anything. I am going to do it my way because that is what I think is right.”

When he was stopped by police later that evening, he was found to be carrying a knife and a baton-torch in his van.

They also found a Nazi coin in his pocket upon arrest and discovered flyers and newspapers centred on the far-right group Britain First at his home in Harrow.

Before the incident at Spicy Night, he was seen driving around the pedestrianised area at St Ann’s Shopping Centre shouting “white power”.

He then went inside where he “caused a disturbance” and pushed an unknown Asian man.

Zakrocki drove to the restaurant and, after being asked by the owner to move away, said: “Watch what I am going to do now.”

He headed for the owner, who was forced to jump out of the way, before crashing into the shop front twice and driving off down Northolt Road.

The damage caused to Spicy Night restaurant

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He was stopped by police and was found to be almost three times over the drink-drive limit.

During interview, he confessed to ownership of the weapons but added that he had no recollection of events after drinking the wine.

He added that he was not a racist and did not wish to harm anyone.

Zakrocki was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 33 weeks’ imprisonment – 32 weeks’ for dangerous driving, six weeks’ to run concurrently for drink-driving and seven days’ to run consecutively for beating his wife. He was released having served his sentence on remand.  

He was originally accused of attempted murder and three racially-aggravated offences but these were not pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Further charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and having a knife in a public place were ordered to lie on file.

The incident was not deemed to be a terrorist incident following an assessment by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

It was subsequently investigated as a hate crime by Harrow Community Safety Unit. 

DC Georgina Acuna, the investigating officer from Harrow Community Safety Unit, said: “Zakrocki deliberately armed himself with a knife and told both his family and officers that he intended to harm someone for their religious beliefs. 

“This was a terrifying ordeal for the witnesses and victims. Zakrocki was almost three times over the drink-driving limit and it was through pure good-fortune that no one was injured during his rampage.

“I hope [this] sentencing gives Zakrocki’s victims some measure of comfort and closure.”