WLADIMIR DEKTEREFF: HARROGATE CHILD RAPIST CAUGHT AT HEATHROW WITH FRUIT KNIFE AND SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD OFFENSES

In a case that spanned over two decades, Wladimir Dektereff, a 74-year-old man from Harrogate, was finally brought to justice for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls in North Yorkshire during the early 1980s. The long-awaited arrest occurred unexpectedly at Heathrow Airport in October of the previous year, when customs officers stopped him during a routine check. During the search, they discovered a fruit knife concealed in one of his suitcases, which led to a detailed investigation that uncovered his dark past.

Dectereff had previously fled to Portugal, believing he had successfully evaded law enforcement and justice for the shocking crimes he committed. The offenses included a brutal rape and 19 indecent assaults on girls aged between ten and 15, with the incidents taking place between 1982 and 1986. Despite his attempt to escape accountability by relocating abroad, his past caught up with him during a return trip to the UK, when authorities matched his details to those of a suspect wanted for these serious crimes.

Upon his arrest, Dektereff was taken into custody and initially bailed to an address in Harrogate. During questioning, he admitted to knowing the victims but initially denied any involvement in the offenses. However, he later pleaded guilty at a court hearing held last month, sparing the victims the trauma of a lengthy trial. The prosecution, led by Simon Kealey at York Crown Court, detailed the disturbing pattern of behavior that Dektereff exhibited towards the girls he employed at his North Yorkshire restaurant.

Mr. Kealey explained that Dektereff had operated a restaurant in the region and had employed one of the victims as a part-time waitress when she was just 13 years old. Over time, his conduct became increasingly predatory, as he began to flatter and compliment her, then progressed to touching her inappropriately. His behavior escalated to kissing her within the restaurant premises, and he would often give her lifts home, further establishing a manipulative and abusive dynamic. The court heard that when the girl was 15, she was waiting for a lift home when Dektereff entered and committed the rape. Another girl, also employed at the restaurant, was indecently assaulted while alone in the kitchen, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior.

Following the offenses, Dektereff moved to Portugal with his partner but continued to visit North Yorkshire periodically. It was during one such visit in October last year that his past was uncovered, leading to his arrest with the concealed fruit knife. His defense attorney, Richard Reid, highlighted that Dektereff was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and was experiencing financial difficulties at the time of the offenses. Reid also emphasized that Dektereff had expressed genuine remorse and regret for his actions, and argued that he posed a low risk of re-offending.

Judge Stephen Ashurst sentenced Dektereff to seven years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. In his remarks, the judge stated, “You have admitted 20 serious sexual offences. The passage of time does not diminish the severity of rape. You have had many years at liberty to reflect on your actions, while your victims have had to cope with the trauma in their own ways.” The judge acknowledged the profound impact on the victims, noting that two of them had been significantly affected, especially in their relationships with adult men. He also pointed out that Dektereff, in his 50s at the time of the offenses, held a position of power and trust over the victims, which made his actions even more reprehensible.

All three victims attended the sentencing hearing, and after Dektereff was taken into custody, one expressed relief, saying, “It’s a relief he has finally gone to prison after all these years. It’s incredible that he was only brought to justice because of a fruit knife.” The case serves as a stark reminder of how justice can sometimes be delayed but ultimately prevail, bringing closure to those affected by such grave crimes.