Rapist freed in error says he warned prison staff

A rapist who is on the run from justice claims he told prison guards there had been a "mistake" when he was released from jail in error.

Bernadin Dedic, 48, was awaiting trial for raping a woman at knifepoint in his west London home when he was mistakenly freed from HMP Wormwood Scrubs on 6 February.

After his release, he travelled via Eurostar to his native Bosnia and did not return for his trial in June. He was convicted in his absence of all charges against him.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said it was improving its "archaic" release systems to avoid further prisoner release errors. The BBC has asked the MOJ to comment on Dedic's claims that he alerted officers to the mistake.

At his trial, the court heard Dedic had lured a woman into the basement of his home in Ealing, west London, where he threatened her with a knife and warned her he would kill her if she screamed.

He then cut off the woman's clothes before repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting her for several hours.

Since conviction, Dedic has given a number of reasons for evading justice in the UK, such as visa issues, a skiing accident, health problems and a fear of flying.

Speaking to the Press Association (PA), Dedic said he did not return to London for sentencing, as he did not want to go to prison.

Dedic was released from remand after an official at Isleworth Crown Court mixed up digital case files following a hearing and wrongly concluded that he had been granted bail.

This information was then sent to the prison.

Dedic told PA he knew at the time this was an error and claimed he tried to persuade the prison to let him stay.

"They told me I was released," he said. "I said: 'Let me stay the weekend, this is a mistake'.

"But they pushed me out."

The businessman, who was living in Ealing said after being released, he contacted his lawyers and spoke to friends who told him "you don't have a fair trial, go away and try from there".

Dedic also told PA that his legal team had previously tried and failed to secure bail, including an offer of an £80,000 surety.

Although his UK passport had been seized by police during the rape investigation, he was able to use his Bosnian passport to travel on Eurostar.

Dedic was initially due to stand trial in March, but he claimed through his lawyers that he had difficulties obtaining a visa.

After these issues were resolved by the authorities, Dedic later said he could not fly to the UK due to a knee injury sustained while skiing.

Ahead of a rescheduled trial in June, he claimed he had suffered chest pains on the way to the airport.

Proceeding with the hearing in his absence, Judge Hannah Duncan said she was "far from convinced he has had a heart attack", and asked for medical reports.

On 9 June, a jury found him guilty of four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, threatening a person with a knife in a private place, and making a threat to kill.

The prosecution previously told the court that Dedic carried out the attacks at his home after separating from his partner. He had been drinking heavily and taking cocaine, the court heard.

No date for sentencing has yet been set, but if he fails to return for it, UK authorities are likely to begin extradition proceedings.

His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has launched an investigation into Dedic's release.

A spokesperson said: "We understand the distress errors such as this can cause to those affected and instances like this have exposed deep-rooted issues across the broken justice system the government inherited."

Eurostar clarified that it did not have access to passengers' criminal records and did not carry out border checks, as this was a responsibility held by the relevant border authorities.

A review of the case is to be heard on 7 July.

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