Sex offender used ladder to climb through bedroom window to assault girl, 12

A burglar crept into a 12-year-old girl’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her while she was sleeping after using a ladder to enter through a window.

The girl’s family initially thought she had been dreaming when she recounted the ordeal to her mother at her home in Darnall, Sheffield.

The victim woke to Bohuslav Horvath, 23, sexually assaulting her, at which point he fled the scene, jumping out of the window he had entered though.

The girl then told her mother, who was still awake downstairs but after finding no signs of a break in, the family thought the child had been dreaming.

Police were called the next day because the 12-year-old continued to show signs of distress, and upon their arrival officers discovered a ladder lying on the grass in the back garden of the home.

A forensic team later found Horvath’s fingerprints on a bedroom windowsill.

Horvath, from Sheffield, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault by touching and burglary in relation to the attack on May 15 last year.

‘Attacker will be behind bars for many years to come’

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday. The sex offender has also been subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, a restraining order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

PC Fiona Busfield, investigating, said: “This case is truly the stuff of nightmares and I would like to commend the young victim and her family for their bravery and dignity during this investigation.

“Our SOCO (scenes of crime officer) carried out a number of enquiries and discovered two fingerprints, which we quickly matched to Horvath.

“He was promptly arrested. In an interview, he admitted using the ladder to climb into the house but denied touching the young girl. We knew this was untrue and despite it being ‘one word against another’, the evidence on board ensured this dangerous predator had no choice but to plead guilty.”

PC Busfield added: “I am pleased Horvath will be behind bars for many years to come and hope this helps to provide some closure to the young victim and her family.

“As a force, we do not tolerate any form of violence against women and girls, and will use all appropriate resources and powers to secure justice against.”