HADDINGTON MAN RUSLANAS KUKANAUZA SENTENCED FOR ATTEMPTED RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN HADDINGTON

In June 2016, a man from Haddington, Ruslanas Kukanauza, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl and sexually assaulting three other underage girls in incidents that took place in Haddington during 2013.

During the proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge addressed Kukanauza, who is originally from Lithuania, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. The court heard that Kukanauza, aged 25 at the time, had previously denied the charges but was found guilty of the attempted rape and other sexual assaults following a trial. The judge, Michael O’Grady QC, made it clear that due to the nature of the attempted rape, a custodial sentence was inevitable.

Judge O’Grady remarked, “It is apparent to me from the circumstances of this case that you are inclined to prey on young women as a matter of course.” He further emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “It goes without saying that the crime of attempted rape is always a cowardly and serious offence,” especially when committed by an adult male against a vulnerable minor.

The victim of the attempted rape, who is now 17 years old, provided testimony about her experiences at the time of the incident. She explained that she and her friends would often go out drinking and sometimes ask others to buy alcohol for them. She admitted she was unsure of Kukanauza’s exact age but recalled that he initially claimed to be 19, then 21, and later 24.

The girl recounted that she had told her mother she was going to the gym, but her real intention was to buy alcohol. She contributed £20 towards the purchase, and Kukanauza returned with a bag containing lager, cider, and gin. She described how they sat together for a while before being invited to his flat on Hardgate in Haddington, where she was drinking gin. Later, they left the flat after Kukanauza said he was going to the pub, but they were allowed to return later and stay.

The teenager described feeling very intoxicated at that point. She recalled lying on a bed with others when Kukanauza joined them. She was awakened by her body shaking and noticed that her pants had been pulled down without her consent. She emphasized that she was asleep during the incident and did not give her permission for what was happening. Once she realized what was occurring, she stood up and left the flat.

Defense lawyer Matt Jackson argued that Kukanauza maintained his innocence. He acknowledged that his client recognized that involving himself in supplying alcohol was wrong but insisted that Kukanauza had come to Britain as a 17-year-old seeking employment and had demonstrated a strong work ethic.

As part of his sentence, Kukanauza was placed on the sex offenders’ register and received a five-year jail term, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes committed in Haddington.