The jury retires in the trial of an American pilot accused of kidnapping a nine-year-old girl

A jury has retired in the trial of a former US Air Force pilot accused of kidnapping a nine-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her.

Isleworth Crown Court heard that Robert Prussak, 57, contacted the girl in London after she was separated from her family on April 22 this year while traveling from France.

The girl, who cannot be named due to her age, stood outside the Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, central London.

It is alleged that Prussak then walked her to his apartment, gave her bitter water containing the antihistamine Benadryl, and that she felt tired after drinking it.

Prussak, of no fixed address, then allegedly took her to Hyde Park where he sexually assaulted her. He denies all the allegations against him.

In Monday’s closing statement, prosecutor Nneka Akudolu KC said: “I can’t believe it,” was the response (of the girl’s mother) when asked how she felt when she was shown still images of the trusting nine children. – a year-old daughter being led away from her last known place by an unknown man.”

She added: “(The alleged victim) is a very intelligent young girl. When she was separated from her parents, she did exactly what she was supposed to do – “stop, stop and stay there” so a family member could find her.

“She was approached by a man she believed to be a Good Samaritan who, at that moment, showed interest in her loss and wanted to help her.”

The court heard how Prussak communicated with the girl, who did not speak English, using Google Translate, with Ms Akudolu saying: “After communicating using this app and waiting for about seven minutes, this person, we allege, turned from good Samaritan to opportunistic predator.

“Because the moment he decided to leave the place where she last saw her family was the moment he decided he had another plan for her.”

The surveillance footage played during the trial shows the moment when Prussak met the girl outside Harrods. He can be seen walking past her before he stops talking to her.

They communicate for a while using his phone and then leave together.

The recording also shows Prussak and the girl entering Chelsea Cloisters, where he was staying, and going to his apartment.

They spent almost two hours inside, according to the footage, before leaving and walking through central London again.

Jurors were told Prussak took the girl to Hyde Park through the popular tourist entrance to the Royal Albert Hall and they walked past a pond.

In her closing statement, Catherine Donnelly, defending, asked why Prussak took the girl “to one of the busiest parks, in one of the busiest parts of the park” to sexually assault her.

She also asked why he would wait until the effects of the Benadryl he allegedly drugged her with could “wear off.”

She added: “The apartment was the right place to do it, no one would have noticed him, (but) while he was there, he turned on the TV, gave her a glass of water and then did nothing.”

Prussak holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and joined the United States Air Force as a mathematician.

He became an Air Force pilot and now works as a “pilot for hire,” which brought him to London on April 10, Judge Edward Connell said, summing up Prussak’s testimony.

Prussak denies three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13.

He also denies one count of kidnapping, one count of felony kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense and one count of intentionally administering a substance.