Three men have been jailed for drugging and raping a 12-year-old girl in what a judge described as using her for their "horrendous gratification". Kevin Horvath (26), Ivan Turtak (38) and Ernest Gunar (27) were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday following their convictions for rape and sexual offences.
The trio first encountered their victim in a Dover supermarket car park on 11th August 2024, encouraging her to get into their car. She was then given crystal methamphetamine and amphetamine before being subjected to rape and sexual assault over a two-day period.
All three men are originally from Slovakia, though they have lived in the UK for some time. Horvath and Gunar are understood to be cousins.
Sentences handed down
Ernest Gunar received the longest sentence of 19 years, while Kevin Horvath and Ivan Turtak were each jailed for 17 years. All three will serve an additional three-year extended licence period.
The men also received concurrent sentences for other counts of rape, sexual assault and possession of indecent images. Judge Sarah Counsell assessed all three as dangerous enough to warrant extended sentences.
Impact on victim
Judge Counsell told the court the victim still suffers nightmares, has no friends and cannot feel comfortable around large groups of people. Relaying the girl's words, the judge said: "I don't feel like the same girl anymore, I just want to be her again and I hope that I will be her again."
The victim managed to escape on 13th August after waking up before her captors. During her ordeal, she was too scared to speak to anyone or attempt to flee when they went out in public.
Details of the ordeal
While the initial meeting appeared random, the men's actions quickly became organised as they moved between different addresses, including Gunar's caravan in Folkestone. Judge Counsell noted: "There were elements of planning and you acted together to commit these offences and you used drugs to facilitate your offending."
The three men showed little or no remorse throughout proceedings. They attempted to claim during trial that the girl had told them she was 19 or 20, with one describing her as "sexually promiscuous".
Court verdict
Judge Counsell rejected their claims, stating: "You claimed that she told you that she was 19 or 20 but I do not accept your evidence. She does not look anywhere near 19 or 20."
On 19th June, jurors found the three men guilty after more than 14 hours of deliberation. Gunar was convicted of two counts of rape against a child under 13, Turtak of one count, and Horvath of sexual assault.
Horvath had already admitted three counts of rape against a child under 13 and one charge of assault by penetration. Gunar had also previously admitted one charge of rape, while Turtak initially denied rape but admitted taking indecent photos of a child.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
