The mother of a 12-year-old girl, who was abducted from an Asda parking lot and endured a harrowing 72-hour rape ordeal, has disclosed that her daughter has undergone a significant transformation since the traumatic incident.
Following a trial, Kevin Horvath, 26, Ivan Turtak, 38, and Ernest Gunar, 27, were all sentenced to prison. The girl was enticed into their vehicle in an Asda parking area in Dover, Kent by Horvath and Turtak on August 11.
She was provided with drugs such as crystal meth and amphetamine and was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the duo, as well as Gunar. Prosecutor Hannah Llewellyn-Waters informed the jury that the girl, who was vulnerable, was “exploited, mistreated, and discarded like garbage.”
During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, it was revealed that the girl was abused in three different locations: the car where she was lured in, Turtak’s apartment in Dover, and a dilapidated caravan in Folkestone. Her ordeal only came to an end when she managed to escape through a window on August 13.
Describing the situation, Ms. Llewellyn-Waters stated, “She was treated as a mere object for their own pleasure, and the defendants’ behavior was heartless, degrading, and entirely exploitative.”
The devastated parents of the girl expressed their thoughts after the verdict, noting that their once confident and outgoing daughter has now become a mere shadow of her former self. The mother, whose identity is protected, shared that her daughter no longer engages in activities outside the home without close supervision.
The parents recounted how they had always been vigilant about their daughter’s whereabouts, ensuring she was always in their sight. They emphasized their cautious approach to her social interactions, preferring her friends to visit their home where they could keep an eye on her.
Despite the distressing experience and the challenging process of providing evidence, the girl’s parents commended her bravery. Her mother recalled how her daughter faced immense fear while preparing to testify to the authorities.
Her mother also commended her daughter for her courage in escaping from the perpetrators despite the threats they made. She highlighted the moment when her daughter decided to escape through a window, showing remarkable courage and determination.
Turtak and Horvath were each sentenced to 17 years in prison with an additional three years on extended license, while Gunar received a 19-year sentence with an additional three years on extended license.