Trio jailed for drugging and raping 12-year-old

The victim was left traumatised, according to the judge

Three men have been jailed for drugging and raping a 12-year-old girl over a three-day period.

Kevin Horvath, 26, and Ivan Turtak, 38, saw the victim in a supermarket car park in Dover on 11 August 2024 and encouraged her to get in their car.

She was then given drugs, including crystal meth and amphetamine, and repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by them and a third man, 27-year-old Ernest Gunar.

Sentencing the trio, Judge Sarah Counsell told Canterbury Crown Court their victim still had nightmares, did not have any friends and did not feel comfortable around large groups.

Gunar was jailed for 19 years, while Horvath and Turtak were jailed for 17 years.

Gunar was convicted of two counts of rape against a child under 13; Turtak was convicted of one count; and Horvath was convicted of sexual assault.

Horvath had already admitted three counts of rape against a child under 13, and one charge of assault by penetration of a child under 13, and Gunar had also admitted one charge of rape.

Turtak initially denied rape but did admit taking indecent photos of a child.

Catherine Wear from the Crown Prosecution Service said the men had used the girl for "their own horrendous gratification".

She said the girl was unable to tell officers what had happened as she was so scared.

"I don't feel like the same girl anymore," the judge said, relaying the victim's words.

"I just want to be her again."

'No remorse'

During the three-day ordeal, the men told the girl she would be killed if she tried to talk to anyone or run away whenever they went outside.

The court heard that, while initially meeting the victim was random, their actions became organised and they moved between different addresses, including Gunar's caravan in Folkestone.

The child was able to escape after waking up before them on 13 August and was found by police in Dover.

Her phone had been taken from her and was later found in Horvath's car.

Judge Counsell said the three men had shown little or no remorse.

The men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court

All three men will serve three years of an extended licence period.

They were also given restraining and sexual harm prevention orders.