TURKISH LORRY DRIVER WHO RAPED TEENAGE GIRL IN GREENHITHE AND THEN FLED TO TURKEY JAILED
A lorry driver who raped a teenage girl in his cab has been jailed for almost nine years.Samet Duman, 35, of St Hilda's Way, Gravesend, was convicted by a jury of raping the girl following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Police said they received a report the teenager had been raped by an unknown man in a lorry parked in London Road, Greenhithe, on August 30, 2023.
CCTV footage helped identify a foreign-registered lorry later traced to Turkey.
Forensic examinations uncovered DNA belonging to the suspect but initially there was no match on the national database.
The breakthrough came in 2024 when Duman was arrested during an unrelated matter, and his DNA was uploaded and conclusively matched.
He had already fled the country but was flagged as wanted.
Officers arrested him at Stansted Airport on June 7 last year after returning from Turkey.
Duman denied the offence but was convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey.
He was sentenced to eight years and eight months on April 21.
Investigating officer Detective Constable James Lake praised the victim’s bravery and her support in helping bring the offender to justice.
