A rapist who repeatedly attacked a 19 year-old girl over ten years ago, after picking her up in the West End with an unknown accomplice, was trapped by DNA when police caught him drink-driving.
Polish-born Kazimierz Sadowski, 32, of Essex Road, Barking, Essex, fled to his homeland for two months when charged with the sex crime, but was arrested and returned, receiving an 8-year sentence.
The Southwark Crown Court jury rejected his claim of being the Polish victim’s boyfriend and the court heard he launched a campaign of threats and intimidation against her and her family in a bid to end the prosecution.
Her ordeal began on July 4, 1999 when enjoying a night out with three girl pals in Leicester Square.
As they strolled towards Piccadilly Circus to catch a bus home to Shepherds Bush, they accepted a lift from Sadowski (pictured) and his accomplice – believed to be a Polish gypsy - because one of the girls knew him.
After dropping off the other three women the two men - with Sadowski driving - headed towards the victim's home when the passenger turned around to her and said: "What would you do if we would rape you?"
The victim repeatedly made bids for freedom, but the passenger prevented her and despite her protests, screams and struggle they then took turns in raping her repeatedly.
She reported the rapes to police two days later and a full DNA profile was obtained, but no matches found on the national database.
On March 23, 2008, Sadowski was arrested for drink-driving and a 1 in 1 billion match came up on the DNA database, after a routine mouth swab.
Charged with three rapes and two indecent assaults Sadowski was bailed on December 4 by City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court and quickly fled to Poland.
A European arrest warrant was issued and he was picked up by Polish police on January 30, this year.
On his return to the UK he instigated a campaign of intimidation against the victim and her family to try and force her to drop the case.
The victim refused and the trial went ahead with the woman bravely recalling her ordeal to a jury which convicted Sadowski.
DC Claire Watts, from the Metropolitan Police Cold Case Sapphire Investigation Team, said: "Kazimierz Sadowski subjected this woman to a lengthy, terrifying and violent attack.
“The jury rightly saw through his lies and upheld the victim's account of being repeatedly raped and indecently assaulted.
"Today's sentencing reflects the seriousness with which all sexual assaults will be dealt with and is some recognition of the bravery of the victim in continuing to support the prosecution despite the intimidation she and her family were subjected to.
I hope that this acts as a reassurance to any other victim that the Met will do everything we can to support victims in seeking justice."
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