Man sentenced for killing pensioner

A man who brutally murdered a pensioner has been sentenced to life in jail after brave Met officers tackled him as he fled from the scene.

Phillip Fraczek, then aged 20, entered the block of flats on Plaistow Road, West Ham, at around 13.30pm on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, where he tried to get into multiple properties before falling asleep on the floor.

At around 14.55hrs, he was woken and asked to leave by 79-year-old Franklin Agbotui. Ten minutes later, neighbours heard banging noises and screaming coming from his flat.

Police were called at 15.05hrs and found Franklin horrifically injured. Officers performed emergency CPR before he was taken to hospital by London's Air Ambulance, where he sadly died on Monday, 20 May.

A neighbour – whose door Fraczek had knocked on hours earlier – spotted him trying to flee the scene and alerted officers, who began a foot chase.

He was caught and arrested two streets away on Geere Road. His knuckles and Nike trainers were covered in blood which forensic scientists were later able to confirm was Franklin’s.

As the two officers restrained him, preserving vital evidence, he attacked them - headbutting one in the jaw.

• Fraczek, 22 (06.04.2004), of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to murder and assault of an emergency worker at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 6 February. On Monday, 27 April he was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years and four months.

Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, whose team led this investigation, said: "Franklin was known to friends and neighbours as a kind and gentle man, often seen tending the flowers in their shared garden. He had a long and successful career in the Merchant Navy and had earned a happy retirement.

"This was horrifically taken from him by Fraczek - whose unprovoked and savage attack has rocked this community.

"I would like to thank the Met officers who put themselves in harm’s way to chase down Fraczek and detain him, bringing him immediately into custody and preserving vital evidence.

"Our thoughts remain with Franklin's family and friends, and hope the lengthy sentence can bring them some degree of peace."

In their victim impact statement, Franklin's family said: "Our father lived a quiet, humble life grounded in integrity, respect, perseverance, education and faith. He instilled these values in us consistently and led by example.

"Despite his modest nature, he was deeply present in our lives - offering guidance, checking in regularly and sending daily messages. He was a constant, steady source of support. Beyond our immediate family, he was an active and valued member of his church community, where his absence has also been keenly felt.

"We continue to feel the absence of our father’s kindness, his humour and his guidance. The regular contact and reassurance he provided are no longer there, leaving a void in our daily lives.

"His death has had a profound and far-reaching impact on our wellbeing, our sense of stability and our family as a whole. The consequences - emotional, practical and long term - remain ongoing, and we continue to navigate life without the presence and support that defined his role in our lives."