London, UK – In a case that has captured public attention, Robert Prussak, a 57-year-old former U.S. Air Force officer, was acquitted of multiple charges, including sexual assault, in connection with an alleged incident involving a 9-year-old girl who went missing for two hours during a visit to Harrod’s department store in London.
The incident occurred on April 22, when the girl, on vacation with her family, separated for just 15 seconds.
According to reports, Prussak approached the girl, allegedly took her back to his apartment, and is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting her in Hyde Park. He was arrested the same day after being seen with the child.
Prussak broke down in tears as he was found not guilty of three counts of sexual assault by the Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday. “I did not touch [the girl] as she described.
I’m not sure why she would say that,” he told jurors, according to the Daily Mail. During the trial, Prussak maintained that he only tried to help the girl, saying he was concerned for her safety.
Prosecutors presented evidence, including CCTV footage showing the girl entering Prussak’s apartment in Chelsea at 2:44 p.m., with no sight of her leaving until nearly two hours later at 4:39 p.m.
The girl, who cannot be named due to her age, testified that Prussak used a translation app to communicate with her, claiming he asked if she needed help when he noticed she looked lost but not crying.
Following the alleged incident, urine samples taken from the girl suggested she may have ingested Benadryl, an antihistamine that can cause drowsiness. However, tests of the cup showed no trace of the drug, while four empty Benadryl packets were found in a compartment behind Prussak’s door.
Meanwhile, the girl’s family and Harrods security conducted a frantic search, eventually focusing on footage of her being led away by a man. The girl’s father recounted the moment of panic, stating, “I thought she was lost, but when I saw the picture of the man, I thought that she could’ve been abducted.”
Metropolitan Police officers arrested Prussak at 5:40 p.m. after noticing him with the girl. During deliberations, the jury asked if there was any DNA evidence of the alleged assault, but the judge confirmed that none existed.
In court, Prussak claimed he was trying to keep the girl safe, stating, “My mind went straight to my daughters, who are just a few years older than her.” He alleged that he took the girl to his apartment to find a police station after it started to rain, and he denied any allegations of sexual assault.
In addition to being acquitted of the sexual assault charges, Prussak was cleared of one charge of kidnapping, one charge of committing an abduction with intent to commit a sexual offence, and one count of administering a substance with intent.
Prussak, who has a complex background, including a domestic violence protection order filed against him by his ex-wife in 2021, expressed relief at the verdict. He served in the Air Force for 17 years before retiring in 2014. The case raises serious concerns about child safety in public spaces, leaving many unsettled by the incident’s details.
