A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting a young student of Irish origin who had been brought to Alicante on an Erasmus scholarship. The conviction includes an additional one-year term for a public health offense discovered during the arrest at his home, where authorities found a small marijuana greenhouse hidden in a cupboard. The production and sale of the plants were intended for third parties, according to the court ruling.
Courtroom details and the alleged encounter
The events under trial occurred on June 17, 2022. The court document explains that the defendant met the student around 3:00 p.m. for a motorcycle ride, then took her to his apartment in central Alicante where the sexual assault is alleged to have taken place.
After the encounter, the victim left the residence and filed a complaint at a police station. Officers went to the defendant’s home to carry out the arrest procedure.
During the process of dressing the defendant, officers detected a strong cannabis odor. This led to the discovery of a marijuana plantation concealed in a wardrobe, with up to 48 plants and a street-value quantity estimated at 4,504 euros, as stated in the verdict.
The court credited the victim’s account, noting her persistence, lack of motive to harm the defendant, and absence of contradictions in her statements. This credibility played a central role in the determination of the final sentence.
Consequently, the tribunal imposed four years of imprisonment for sexual assault, plus a restraining order prohibiting the defendant from approaching within 500 meters of the victim for two years. A further five-year period of supervised release was ordered. The defendant was also ordered to compensate the victim with 5,000 euros in damages.
Regarding the public health offense for cultivating marijuana for sale, the court added one year of imprisonment and a fine equivalent to the drug’s assessed value, 4,504 euros.
The ruling notes that the sentence is subject to appeal before the Valencian Community Superior Court of Justice. The accused has contended that the sexual relations with the student were consensual and denies the assault.
These findings reflect the court’s assessment of the evidence and the testimonies presented during the trial, as reported in the official court records and corroborated by enforcement authorities involved in the case.