A lorry driver who lured a teenage girl into his cab in Greenhithe before fleeing the country has been jailed for more than eight years. The incident occurred on 30 August 2023, when Kent Police received a report that the victim had been raped inside a vehicle parked on London Road.
Although detectives used extensive CCTV footage to identify a foreign-registered lorry traced back to Turkey, the case initially went cold because the DNA recovered from the scene did not match any profiles on the national database at the time.
A significant forensic breakthrough arrived in 2024 when Samet Duman, a Turkish national, was arrested for an unrelated matter. His DNA was uploaded to the system, providing a conclusive match to the Greenhithe attack.
Despite having fled the UK, Duman was circulated as a wanted person to international authorities. Acting on intelligence that he was returning to the country, Kent Police officers intercepted and arrested him at Stansted Airport on 7 June 2025.
Duman, 35, formerly from Gravesend, maintained his innocence throughout a two-week trial at the Old Bailey. However, the jury rejected his false and contradictory accounts, convicting him of the offence. On 21 April 2026, he was sentenced to eight years and eight months’ imprisonment.
Investigating officer Detective Constable James Lake said:
‘This was a terrifying and deeply traumatic ordeal for the victim, who was targeted by a stranger and subjected to an appalling offence.
‘Her bravery in coming forward and supporting this investigation has been extraordinary, particularly given the distress she has endured. Through the support of the victim and her family, she was able to deliver effective evidence to help bring this predatory offender to justice.
‘From the outset, Duman provided false and contradictory accounts, a pattern of dishonesty that continued throughout the investigation and at trial. Thanks to the victim’s courage and the perseverance of the investigative team, he has now been held fully accountable for his actions.’