A young British woman confirmed on Monday via video link from her home country that she was gang raped while visiting Benidorm with her family in 2016. She believes she was drugged beforehand because she was unconscious after consuming only three or four alcoholic drinks that night. The three defendants dispute the gang rape allegation presented by the Public Prosecutor, who is seeking a total prison term of 29 years and 3 months for three counts of continuous sexual abuse and one count of robbery.
According to the prosecutor’s indictment, the incident occurred in the early hours of October 2, 2016 in Benidorm. The trio allegedly approached a 24-year-old in a bar, took advantage of her intoxicated state, and escorted her to a nearby park where they had sexual intercourse with her without consent. They then moved to an open area where the assaults continued while the victim was semi-conscious, the Public Ministry asserts. After the episodes, the victim escaped, and witnesses reported that watches and rings worth 497 euros were stolen.
allegations of drugging in drinks
The young woman testified that her drink must have been spiked, noting that she woke up unconscious and lying down, with three or four men nearby the vehicle later on. She also claimed she did not agree to sexual relations with any of the defendants and described ongoing fear and anxiety that has kept her from leaving home alone. The victim’s mother recalled that her daughter returned home that night and told her she had been assaulted.
One defendant, Aitor Esteban Gallastegui, who spoke only through his lawyer during the hearing, conceded that he had sex with the victim but said he did not know whether the other two defendants were involved in anything inside the car. He further testified that the other two generally approach women who are drunk, rob them, and then have sex with them.
A second defendant, represented by his attorney José Soler Martin, told prosecutors and the defense that he had no sexual contact with the victim and claimed he simply drove the young woman and the others to a nightclub in his vehicle.
The third defendant, represented by Antonio Gascón Castillo, chose not to testify; his statements were read aloud in court, in which he admitted that all three had sexual relations with the young woman, insisting that they were consensual.
Throughout the proceedings, the court has weighed the severity of the charges, the evidence presented by the Public Ministry, and the defendants’ accounts. The case has drawn attention to issues of consent, the role of drugs in alleged sexual assaults, and the responsibilities of night-time entertainment districts where such incidents often occur. The courtroom has heard detailed testimony, with lawyers for each side outlining timelines, movements, and the potential involvement of other individuals. The proceedings continue as investigators and prosecutors build a complete account of the events on that October night in Benidorm, aiming to determine the precise sequence of actions and establish whether the alleged crimes meet the legal thresholds for conviction and punishment. [Attribution: Public Ministry; Counsel for the defense; Court records]