Audrius Zukauskas

A harrowing incident unfolded at Hanley Bus Station in Stoke-on-Trent, where a vulnerable woman was approached by Audrius Zukauskas, a 55-year-old man from Davis Street, Shelton. The stranger invited her back to his home, where he subjected her to three counts of rape before battering her in a brutal assault. This life-altering attack has left the victim terrified and housebound, grappling with intensified alcohol dependency and profound mental health deterioration.

The victim, who described herself as an alcoholic with a history of trauma, detailed the devastating impact in a poignant victim impact statement read aloud at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. She explained how the assault exacerbated her vulnerabilities, stating, 'I have suffered a lot of trauma in my life but this is the reason I am now alcohol dependent. This makes me extremely vulnerable and I believe that is why he targeted me.' She recounted sleepless nights plagued by flashbacks, forcing her to drink until passing out to escape the memories, and a pervasive fear that has confined her to her home, reliant on her mother for basic tasks.

Zukauskas, originally from Lithuania, admitted to the three counts of rape and one count of assault. On 30 November 2025, he was sentenced to a 12-year extended term at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, as reported by Stoke-on-Trent Live. The judge imposed lifelong placement on the Sex Offenders' Register, with Zukauskas required to serve two-thirds of the custodial portion before parole consideration. He faces potential deportation to Lithuania upon completion of his sentence. The victim expressed deep fears of his recidivism, warning, 'I am scared he is already plotting his revenge or his next victim. I do not want him to be released and I want him to be held accountable for what he did to me.' This case underscores the lasting scars of sexual violence on survivors in the Staffordshire community.