A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for attempted murder and rape in Slough's Salt Hill Park.

Damian Kazimierczak, aged 19, of Salt Hill Way, Slough, was found guilty in July of one count of attempted murder and one count of rape, following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

He was sentenced today at the same court to 22 years in prison for attempted murder and ten years in prison for rape to be served concurrently, plus four years extended licence. He will also be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

Between 2am and 3am on 28 December last year, Kazimierczak attacked a 36-year-old woman in Salt Hill Park in Slough.

The victim sustained serious facial and neck injuries that required immediate medical attention followed by operations. She remained in hospital for several days after the assault.

Kazimierczak, who was not known to police in the UK or in his birthplace Poland, was arrested on January 9 and charged with the offences the following day

Senior investigating officer, Det Supt Kevin Brown, said: “This was a vicious attack which left the victim with severe injuries, as well as mental scars that cannot be healed. She was brutally beaten about the head, strangled with such force as to break a bone in her neck and raped whilst unconscious by Kazimierczak before he left her for dead.

“Kazimierczak has always maintained the attack was down to another unknown individual.

“However, given the overwhelming evidence compiled by the investigating team including the compelling forensic evidence of the victim’s blood being found on his shoes, Kazimierczak was found guilty by the jury in July this year and today he has been sentenced for his terrible crimes.

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage throughout this investigation and subsequent court case and I hope that the sentence today gives her some comfort.

"I would also like to show appreciation to the jury members who made their decision having considered carefully the evidence in a difficult and complex court case. The public are now protected from this clearly dangerous man.

“Understandably the offences had an impact on the community, especially those who live near and use the Salt Hill Park. I would like to thank the public for their cooperation during our investigation.”

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “This was a planned, targeted and violent stranger rape. Damian Kazimierczak is clearly an extremely ruthless, predatory and dangerous man.

“The victim was walking past the Absolutely Ten Pin entrance of the park in the early hours of December 28 when she met Kazimierczak.The two spoke briefly before he grabbed her and threw her to the ground in some bushes. Kazimiercazk then launched a vicious attack, striking the prone victim multiple times to the face before strangling her intounconsciousness and then raping her.

“The victim required surgery for a range of injuries including a broken jaw, broken nose, fractured neck bone and bruising to her eyes, lips, tongue, temple, neck and collar bone.

“Kazimierczak had left the scene, but, via CCTV, the police were able to trace his movements during the evening and to the entrance of the park. Further police work forensically linked Kazimierzak to the scene of the offence and clothing recovered from his home address was found to have the victim’s blood on it.

"This prosecution would not have been possible without the courage of the victim, who was willing to support proceedings. The physical and emotional impact on her of the abhorrent actions of Kazimierczak is impossible to quantify. I hope that the conviction and today’s sentence will offer her some comfort. Our thoughts are very much with her at this time.”