Krisztian Glonczi

On 11 September 2023, in Batley, West Yorkshire, 23-year-old Krisztian Glonczi from Dewsbury committed a brazen sexual assault in broad daylight. He had been stalking his victim, a woman in her 20s, before forcing her to the ground in a wooded area on Taylor Street and attempting to rape her. The victim demonstrated remarkable courage by fighting off her attacker, who then fled the scene with some of her property, which he later discarded nearby.

Police were alerted to the incident in the afternoon and took a detailed report from the victim. As part of the ongoing enquiries, a detective from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) was conducting investigations in the area when he spotted Glonczi walking down the road. Recognising him immediately from CCTV images already obtained, the officer stopped and arrested the suspect on the spot. At the time, Glonczi was not known to the police, marking this as his first offence.

Further investigations revealed that Glonczi had attempted to flee the country while police were working to identify him, but his plans were thwarted when he lost his passport. He pleaded guilty to attempted rape and theft offences at Leeds Crown Court. On 13 December 2023, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.

Detective Inspector Guy Shackleton, who led the investigation, described Glonczi as a dangerous sexual predator who stalked his victim before attacking her. He praised the victim's bravery, stating: “She showed real courage in both fighting him off and then coming forward to report what had happened to her.” Shackleton emphasised the seriousness with which West Yorkshire Police treat reports of sexual offences, noting that the most serious cases are handled by specialist teams like HMET to ensure thorough investigations and support for victims.

The swift identification and arrest were facilitated by the victim's prompt reporting and the detective's quick recognition from CCTV footage. This case underscores the effectiveness of rapid police response in preventing further harm from predators like Glonczi. The sentencing at Leeds Crown Court serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for such crimes in the UK.