The Alicante court has sentenced a 58-year-old man to fourteen years and nine months of imprisonment for sexual assault of a minor in Novelda, a crime carried out over a period during which revenge against the victim’s mother was a motivating factor. The sentence, to which this publication has access, includes a ban on approaching or communicating with the minor for sixteen years and an award of ten thousand euros in non-pecuniary damages.
According to the ruling, the events occurred between September 2020 and the following year at the accused’s home in Novelda. The victim and her sister frequently visited to play with the accused’s seven-year-old son. The court noted that on at least five occasions the accused exploited moments when he was alone with the children to direct the victim and her sister to help with household tasks, while instructing the younger girl to stay nearby. During kitchen moments, the accused allegedly wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist and touched her private parts with a disturbing intent before attempting to lead her to a more private space and forcing a sexual act. The court found that the accused sexually violated the girl, using coercion and intimidation. He also made explicit statements indicating a desire for revenge against the victim’s mother.
The court highlighted the accused’s vindictive mentality toward the victim’s mother, describing a long-standing conflict within the family. The verdict explains that the man frequently insulted the mother, blaming her for the dissolution of the marriage. A confrontation at a family birthday party, sparked by excessive alcohol consumption on the part of the accused, apparently did not prevent him from continuing the harmful conduct with the girl. During that heated moment, the defendant is said to have accused the mother of a serious offense against his daughter, statements that prompted the mother to take action and file a formal complaint with authorities.
Witnesses testified with complete credibility regarding the minor’s account. The court found that the girl answered questions consistently and showed no significant inconsistencies, gaps, or hesitations in describing the episodes. The judges also noted that the details were corroborated by testimony from relatives who confirmed the consistency of the story over time. The conviction reflects the court’s determination that the acts constituted a grave breach of sexual freedom and safety for a minor, committed on multiple occasions in a domestic setting, and driven by a motive of revenge rather than any legitimate behavioral context.
In terms of evidence, the court accepted the statements provided by the minor as truthful and reliable, corroborated by the surrounding testimony and the surrounding circumstances. The sentence and its accompanying measures were designed to protect the victim’s welfare while acknowledging the seriousness of the offense and the impact on the child and her family. The ruling underscores the court’s commitment to prosecuting sexual violence against minors and to ensuring stringent penalties that reflect the gravity of such crimes.