Convicted rapist who fled to Bosnia after knifepoint attack jailed for 18 years

Bernadin Dedic, 48, was found guilty of repeatedly raping a woman he held at knifepoint before fleeing to Bosnia

A “cowardly” rapist who absconded following his mistaken release from prison has been handed an 18-year sentence in his absence.

Bernadin Dedic, 48, was convicted last month of repeatedly raping a woman he had held at knifepoint and threatened to kill, during a horrifying ordeal spanning several hours. Dedic had been remanded at HMP Wormwood Scrubs awaiting trial, but was wrongly freed in February after a court official mistakenly recorded that bail had been granted.

Following his release, Dedic fled to his native Bosnia and has refused to return to Britain to face trial. The court was told that Dedic had drunk wine and taken cocaine before holding the victim at knifepoint, cutting off her clothes, and threatening to kill both her and himself.

On Friday, Dedic received his sentence in absentia at Isleworth Crown Court, with Judge Hannah Duncan noting he is “refusing to return to the UK for his sentencing, just as he refused to return to the UK for his trial”.

She confirmed that it was Dedic’s choice not to have legal representation and no defence counsel was present.

The judge acknowledged the official position is “will not confirm nor deny as far as extradition is concerned”, but requested an update from the prosecution. She also called for a blue notice – the Interpol request issued to law enforcement agencies across the globe seeking assistance in gathering information about an individual’s identity, whereabouts, or activities – to be put in place.

Simon Sandford, prosecuting, stated: “I know the CPS position seems to be that they don’t say anything about it, but I understand that the officer is still pursuing the matter.”

In a victim personal statement read to the court by the prosecution, the victim said she “can’t begin to recover” while extradition remains unresolved and Dedic continues to evade justice abroad.

‘Too cowardly to face consequences’.

She said: “While on remand the offender was released in error and left the country. I can’t put into words what that did to me.

“How is a man accused of raping allowed to leave the country unnoticed while on remand? I was relieved the truth was recognised but the man who raped me never had to stand in that courtroom, may never be sentenced in person and remains abroad.”

She went on to describe how she withdrew from almost everyone around her, lost all trust in others, and her sense of self was fundamentally altered.

She said: “I can’t begin to recover while sentencing and extradition remain unresolved and he remains abroad.”

Judge Duncan handed down a sentence of 18 years in prison in Dedic’s absence, with a five-year extension. She stated: “I am sure that he knows his sentence today is listed, he has still refused to return. It’s quite clear he is too cowardly to face the consequence of his disgusting behaviour.”

Following his convictions last month, Dedic informed the Press Association during a telephone conversation from Bosnia that he had no plans to come back to the UK for sentencing.

He maintained his trial had been unfair, said he now had a medical condition preventing him from being in confined spaces – including aircraft – and indicated he’d be prepared to drive to the UK, but only if allowed a fresh trial.

Regarding his assertions about returning for a second trial, Judge Duncan remarked: “I don’t believe that for a moment, and in any event he has been convicted, I have no power to order a retrial.”

Dedic’s freedom came about following a pre-trial hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in February, when an administrator accidentally confused digital case documents and dispatched a message to the prison indicating he’d been given bail.

When his trial arrived, Dedic said he’d sustained a skiing injury preventing travel, suggested visa difficulties, and claimed he’d felt chest pains while heading to the airport. Despite his absence, the jury convicted Dedic of four rape charges, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, threatening a person with a knife while in a private place, and making a threat to kill.