People News

Leona Lewis' jealous attacker

Oct 16, 2009, 9:42 GMT

Leona Lewis. Lewis was happily signing books for fans when an unidentified man in the queue approached her and suddenly attacked without any warning. .Solarpix / PR Photos

Leona Lewis' attacker was jealous of her singing career.

Peter Kowalczyk - who punched Leona at a book signing in London on Wednesday (14.10.09) - had auditioned for UK TV talent show 'The X Factor', which Leona won in 2006, but was not good enough to make it through the first stage.

Peter's father Tomasz said: "He wants to be a singer. He went along and queued up at 'The X Factor'. How far he got with it? Nowhere."

Peter, 29, was arrested by police shortly after the incident and charged with assault.

Last night (15.10.09), he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and is now at a psychiatric hospital.

Leona - who has released a statement saying she was "extremely hurt and upset" - spent yesterday being comforted by boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa and her father Joe at her London home.

She is said to be devastated following the incident, and can't bear to be alone.

According to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, she is reported to have said: "I can't get his grinning face out of my head. Why did he do this to me? What did I do?"

The 24-year-old singer has decided to increase her security to ensure nothing like this happens again.

A source said: "She is petrified. They could have a knife next time. She never really had personal security because she never dreamed anything like this would happen.

"Now she wants a 24-hour security team with plain-clothed guards hidden in the crowd when she goes shopping with friends."

Peter's parents have revealed he has a history of mental health problems.

Describing him as "very sick", they revealed he has anaemia which sometimes affects his mental state.

He had been having weekly music therapy sessions to help him deal with psychological problems.