Beeston rapist Zdenko Turtak sentenced over brutal attack

Violent rapist Zdenko Turtak has today been handed an extended sentence totalling 20 years over a brutal sex attack on an 18-year-old woman in Leeds.
Zdenko TurtakZdenko Turtak
Zdenko Turtak

A judge told the 22-year-old Slovakian national he must serve a minimum of 14 years in prison over the horrific assault on March 6 this year.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier, QC, told Turtak “In those short eight minutes you destroyed her young life.

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“All her youthful hopes and dreams ebbed away in those few minutes.”

The sentence was imposed after Turtak was judge to continue to pose a serious danger to the public.

Turtak was told he must serve an extended six-year period on licence upon his release from custody.

Turtak was arrested in his home country and returned to the UK following a major investigation by West Yorkshire Police.

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Leeds Crown Court heard Turtak “simply did not care” whether his teenage victim lived or died as he bludgeoned her over the head with a stone before raping her in the garden of house on Beeston Road.

Turtak had stalked other women in Leeds before he preyed on the the young victim as she waited for a bus at 10.40pm.

The teenager was only five feet tall, slim, and was wearing traditional Muslim dress at the time.

He forced the victim face down onto the ground before climbing on top of her and placing his hands across her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

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He then struck her on the head 18 times, knocking her unconscious before carrying out the sex attack.

The incident, which lasted just over seven minutes, was captured on a security camera.

The victim managed to get to her feet and crossed the road before collapsing on the pavement,

She was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and received treatment for a cut to her head and injuries to her hip.

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DNA recovered from the scene did not match the national police database in the UK.

A match was then found after it was checked on the European database.

Turtak pleaded guilty to rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.