EU rules allowed killer to rape in Britain

Kajus Scuka, 48, entered the UK after his release from prison in the Czech Republic. He avoided immigration checks because the country, along with Britain, is part of the European Union which offers passport holders free movement.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Scuka arrived in the city in 2009 and was claiming £67-a-week Jobseekers Allowance. He had served 11-and-a-half years of a 13-year sentence for stabbing his wife in an argument over his infidelity.

Yesterday he was convicted by a jury of raping a woman on her 54th birthday as she walked her dog in Wincobank, Sheffield, and three other sex attacks in locations near the Meadowhall shopping centre in 2010 and 2011.

Detectives admitted they had no idea that such a dangerous criminal was in the country, and voiced concern that people like Scuka were allowed to travel to Britain.

Jailing Scuka for life with a minimum term of 12 years, Judge Peter Kelson said the case would leave the public “terribly alarmed”.

He added: “I regard you as a very dangerous man. If there is ever a day that you are released in this country you should be deported.

“It seems to me that even with your convictions for murder and assaults you were free to enjoy the same freedom of movement as any other European citizen.”

Scuka also has convictions in the Czech Republic for gross indecency, indecent assault and assaulting a woman with an axe.

He was arrested close to the scene of one of his sexual assaults in Firth Park, Sheffield, and was identified as the rapist after samples found on his victims matched on the Czech DNA database.

Det Sgt Ian Harding, who led the team which caught Scuka, said: “It is a concern that people of this nature move freely about the EU without any restriction. This man has been living in Sheffield since 2009 and we were not even aware of his presence.”

Scuka’s other three victims, a 51-year-old grandmother, a 23-year-old woman and a student in her 20s, were all subjected to terrifying assaults when Scuka approached them offering money for sex.

The final victim managed to escape and call the police and Scuka was arrested at his home close to the scene. Fibres from his victim’s coat were found on his clothing.

Det Sgt Harding said: “We had the DNA from the rape and we were already aware of other similar offences but could find no match on our UK database.

“So we asked for a search of international databases but it took several months before a match came up on the Czech database in August, 2011. Scuka was on police bail from the last attack and we realised we had our man.

“He was only charged with offences we could definitely prove but I am absolutely certain there are more he has committed.”

Scuka had denied all the offences claiming the rape victim had touched him and that he was not at the scenes of the other attacks.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, the Labour MP whose constituency includes Wincobank, said Scuka should have been picked up by existing checks.

He added: This tragic case demonstrates that far from diluting the recording of crime and sharing of information recommended in the recent Mason Report commissioned by the Coalition Government, we should be strengthening the mechanisms and closing the loopholes of those coming in from overseas, wherever that might be.

“This case demonstrates precisely why we need proper records of crimes committed and where necessary information to protect vulnerable people.”

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “We check all passengers against watchlists but we rely on overseas police to inform us of conviction information which did not happen in this case.

“Had border staff been aware of these convictions we could have refused him entry and we will now seek to deport him following his custodial sentence.”

The spokesman said Scuka would be barred entry in future.

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