A man kidnapped a nine-year-old girl from outside Harrods when she became separated from her parents before taking her to his flat, drugging and sexually assaulting her, a court has heard.  Â
Robert Prussak, 57, approached the girl during her trip to London from France on April 22 last year, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
Prussak, of no fixed address, appeared in court on Monday wearing a light blue T-shirt and glasses and denies all the charges against him.
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED
Nneka Akudolu KC, prosecuting, said the girl became lost while visiting the department store with her family.
She said Prussak approached the girl outside Harrods and asked her if she needed help.
Ms Akudolu told the jury that what then took place was ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’.
‘This defendant took advantage in a situation where a nine-year-old girl had become separated from her family,’ she said.
‘He tricked her before leading her away from the last place they had seen her and back to his flat.’
WHAT INVESTIGATION REVEALS
Ms Akudolu said the girl told police that Prussak had asked her a lot of questions, including whether she had her parents’ number.
He then took her back to his apartment, where he offered her something to drink, she said.
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‘Once there, she watched TV and was given a drink which she described as ”bitter”, she didn’t like it,’ Ms Akudolu said.
‘He offered her another drink which she declined but he told her that she should drink because the apartment was ”humid”.
‘(The girl) said that he then took her to a park where she saw joggers; he took her to a corner of the park and slid his hand underneath her hoodie, his hand landing on her chest and belly.’
Ms Akudolu said she told him to stop as she found this ‘weird’.