Kani Tilki, a 22-year-old serial rapist and paedophile, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing three teenage girls in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The abuse left the victims physically injured and mentally scarred, with two of them attempting suicide. Tilki told his victims that the abuse was "normal" and caused them physical pain.
Details of the Offences
Cardiff Crown Court heard on Friday that Tilki raped a girl under 16 and a 16-year-old, engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old, and took an indecent image of her performing a sexual act. The first victim was raped when she was 15 after Tilki pressured her into sending explicit images by threatening to disclose personal information. He forced her to allow digital penetration and oral sex.
In a victim personal statement, the first victim said: "When I was 15 I just expected to do my GCSEs, pass them and hopefully apply for college. It's supposed to be a breeze, make friends and enjoy life. You're supposed to do that at comp and be a proper kid. I have never really had that when the abuse happened. I never had a normal experience of growing up... Kani took my childhood away from me, my independence, my future and my happiness away from me."
The second victim, also 15 at the time, was given a lift by Tilki who parked in a car park and demanded oral sex. She reluctantly agreed. Tilki filmed the act, amounting to taking an indecent image of a child, then had sexual intercourse with her before she performed oral sex again. In her statement, she said: "This has made me anxious to go out. After speaking to the police I'm frightened of what he might do to me. He convinced other people I was a liar... I ended up in hospital having taken an overdose."
Impact on the Third Victim
The third victim, 16 at the time, was raped while asleep. When she later learned about consent, she asked if someone having sex with her while she was asleep was normal and disclosed the abuse. She also revealed Tilki had anally raped her, causing bleeding and leaving her "crying and screaming" in pain. He told her this was "normal" and everyone did it. In her statement, she said: "I feel like I can't go anywhere without someone else with me... I feel like I was used for him to get pleasure. My mental health has been really bad. I overdosed and tried to take my own life."
Sentencing and Legal Outcome
Tilki, now of Meadow View Close, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was convicted of rape and pleaded guilty to offences including rape, assault by penetration, engaging in sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual intercourse with a child, and taking an indecent image of a child. He was of previous good character. In mitigation, defence barrister Clare Wilks said Tilki was a teenager at the time and had worked as an education peer in prison.
Judge Vanessa Francis said: "You satisfied your own sexual desires with no regard to the harm you were causing." Tilki was sentenced to 20 years in prison with an extended licence period of six years and must register as a sex offender for life. Gwent Police declined a request for a custody photo.
