Rapist is jailed after years avoiding justice
A rapist who filmed his crimes and then evaded justice for years has finally been jailed.
Bradford Crown Court heard that 51-year-old Polish man Artur Taranowski still denied the offences even after a jury found him guilty on all charges back in May this year.
Taranowski, who previously lived in Halifax, had been due to stand trial initially back in April 2023, but he failed to attend, having already flown out of the country and returned to Poland.
The court heard that he was eventually arrested in Greece and returned to the UK to face a jury earlier this year.
Taranowski was subsequently found guilty of rape offences as well as charges of assault by penetration and voyeurism.
He also admitted a Bail Act offence in relation to his failure to turn up for his trial.
On Wednesday, October 28, Recorder Patrick Palmer sentenced Taranowski to nine years in prison.
Taranowski was said to have returned to Poland to deal with a family crisis and to support his mother, who had cancer.
Barrister Ayesha Smart said her client had served seven years in the Polish military before relocating to the UK.
She said he had no previous convictions.
Recorder Palmer said Taranowski would have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.