A United Kingdom judge sentenced 39-year-old Sebastian Kudlak to 12 years and three months in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, for a violent home invasion on Narborough Road in Leicester.
Kudlak pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and threatening a person with an offensive weapon.
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The incident occurred on Saturday, December 20, last year, when Kudlak entered an unlocked door, armed with an imitation handgun and a knife, and held a female resident captive for two hours.
The victim resisted by scratching Kudlak's face, leaving blood evidence that Leicestershire Police later used to secure a DNA match, as reported by leicestermercury.
co. uk.
Kudlak, who lived less than a mile away on Narborough Road, was arrested on Christmas Day and has remained in custody since his apprehension.
Defense representative Dominic Bardill stated that his client carried out the offenses because he was in debt to a drug dealer, noting Kudlak had no prior convictions in the UK or Poland.
Prosecutor Christopher Grabowski read a victim personal statement in court detailing the ongoing psychological trauma caused by the residential breach.
"What happened to me is something nobody should ever have to experience. I genuinely believed I was going to die," stated the victim, an unnamed local mother.
The homeowner described the severe violation of her personal residence and the immediate terror she experienced when confronted by the armed intruder.
"I was absolutely terrified," stated the victim.
The statement explained that the intruder forced her upstairs to retrieve money from her handbag before directing her to lie on her bed.
"A man entered my home - my safe place - and he took that safety away from me," stated the victim.
The complainant noted that the psychological repercussions of the home invasion continue to impact her daily life.
"It is difficult to explain the level of fear, trauma and uncertainty that I now live with every day," stated the victim.
During the two-hour ordeal, Kudlak also forced the woman into a bathroom to wash her hair and sprayed her with Dettol to eliminate forensic traces.
"At one point, when he told me to lie on the bed, I thought I was going to be sexually assaulted," stated the victim.
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The victim recalled freezing during the encounter due to the presence of weapons and the explicit threats made against her life.
"I froze with fear.
He had a gun and a knife and I believed his intentions were to seriously harm or kill me," stated the victim.
After Kudlak fled the scene, the bound victim managed to contact her brother using an Amazon Alexa device, who then alerted emergency services.
"This fear stays with me every day," stated the victim.
Judge Keith Raynor addressed the victim directly in the public gallery while delivering his sentencing remarks regarding the home invasion footage.
"I've seen the footage and that is utterly chilling," said Judge Keith Raynor.
The judge noted that the perpetrator demonstrated a desire for control by forcing the victim to wash her hair to remove evidence.
"You were enjoying the sense of control you had over her," said Judge Keith Raynor.
The court commended the victim for her direct physical resistance during the initial moments of the break-in.
"Your bravery started with challenging him and scratching him in the face," said Judge Keith Raynor.
The judicial remarks concluded by highlighting that the case relied entirely on the physical evidence obtained through her defensive actions.
"It was the blood that provided the DNA link.
This was a case that may never have been detected but for the bravery you've shown," said Judge Keith Raynor.
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Under the terms of the extended sentence, Kudlak must serve at least eight years before becoming eligible for a parole board release review.
