Victim tells jailed abuser 'you have not won'

Richard Krakowski had admitted eight counts of sexual assault and one count of voyeurism

The victim of a sexual predator told her abuser "you have not won" as he was jailed.

Richard Krakowski had admitted seven counts of sexual assault and one count of voyeurism over a 12 year period at the same court in December.

The 72-year-old, of Roman Road, Blackburn, was sentenced earlier at Preston Crown Court to nine years and three months.

The offending, which happened between 2012 and 2024, included Krakowski sexually abusing his victim and filming it for his own "depraved sexual fantasies" and installing a secret camera in a bathroom so she could be filmed and photographed.

'Depraved'

Police were notified after an SD card was passed to someone, containing what Krakowski thought was an innocent recording.

Instead, dozens of images and videos of Krakowski's offending were recovered from the card.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "I hope you will never be allowed to hurt anyone like this again.

"I am building my life again and I am getting stronger every day.

"You have not won."

Det Con Beth Turner said the victim's bravery "has made sure that Krakowski cannot hurt or abuse anyone again".

"Krakowski is a sexual predator," she said. "He abused his victim for his own sexual gratification.

"He recorded the abuse to fulfil his own depraved sexual fantasies, leaving others to pick up the pieces of the destruction he caused.

"His behaviour can only be described as abhorrent."