A woman was left fearing for her life after being brutally raped and assaulted by a man she met at a bus station in the Midlands.
Violent Ordeal After Meeting at Bus Station
Audrius Zukauskas, a 55-year-old Lithuanian national, has been handed a 12-year extended sentence for the horrific attack. The court heard that Zukauskas met the woman, who was a stranger to him, at Hanley Bus Station earlier this year. After their meeting, he invited her back to his home address.
Prosecutor Andrew Baker told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that the pair stopped to buy vodka and wine. However, shortly after arriving at the property on Davis Street in Shelton, Zukauskas became sexually aggressive.
He forcibly removed the woman's clothing, pinned her down, and raped her. "She was physically overpowered by a much larger man, pinned down, and restrained by her arms while the defendant continued to rape her," Mr Baker said. The victim pleaded with him to stop, but he ignored her.
Escalating Violence and Arrest
Following the sexual assault, the violence escalated dramatically. Zukauskas punched the woman multiple times in the face and head, causing a nosebleed, severe bruising, and swelling.
She was left naked and covered in blood, with injuries later documented by police including a split lip. Blood was found on her body, legs, and arms, as well as on bedding and walls at the property.
Alarmed housemates, who heard shouting and saw the victim covered in blood, called the emergency services. Officers attended and Zukauskas was subsequently arrested.
Previous Offences and Sentencing
During the hearing, the court was informed of Zukauskas's criminal history. He had previous convictions for acquisitive crime, minor assaults, and drunkenness between 2008 and 2012, after which he was deported. While in Lithuania, he committed a domestic violence offence in 2019.
Having returned to the UK illegally, he committed a further offence of assaulting an emergency worker in 2022. Mr Baker stated that the defendant posed a "high risk of serious harm to members of the public."
Zukauskas, who had denied any aggression, claimed the sexual activity was consensual and told police he was "not a fan" of condoms. He later admitted three charges of rape and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In mitigation, Rashad Mohammed said his client expressed "regret and remorse" and was ashamed. Judge Richard McConaghy imposed an extended sentence of 12 years, comprising nine years in custody and a three-year extended licence period.
Judge McConaghy told Zukauskas: "You took her clothes off and pinned her down. You raped her... After the rape you repeatedly struck her leaving her significantly bleeding from her face. You left her naked and covered in blood." The judge highlighted the significant psychological impact on the victim.
In addition to the custodial term, Zukauskas will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial sentence before being considered for release by the Parole Board and is liable for deportation.
