A man convicted of repeatedly raping a woman at knifepoint in West London fled the UK after mistakenly being released from prison in February. Bernadin Dedic, 48, was freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs following incorrect information from a court official, and hours later left the country via Eurostar using his Bosnian passport.
Dedic, from Ealing, was on remand facing multiple serious charges including four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and threats with a knife. At Isleworth Crown Court, the jury heard he had consumed large amounts of red wine and cocaine before the attack, during which he threatened the victim’s life and told her she “wouldn’t be heard” if she screamed.
Despite excuses such as a heart attack and a skiing accident, Dedic failed to appear for his trial. Proceedings went ahead in his absence, and the jury found him guilty on all nine charges on Tuesday.
UK authorities are preparing to seek extradition if Dedic does not return for sentencing. The case has raised serious concerns within the justice system after the procedural error that enabled his premature release.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service launched an investigation into the mistake, describing it as part of “deep‑rooted issues across the broken justice system.” The error allowed a convicted rapist to evade custody and flee abroad, sparking calls for urgent reform.
Originally published by UKNIP.
