A provincial court in Murcia handed down a sentence that includes two years in prison and three years of supervised release for a man who admitted to sexually abusing his niece, a minor, on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2019. The decision reflects the penalties in force at the time the offenses occurred and aims to address the seriousness of the conduct while balancing opportunities for rehabilitation for the offender.
The court also issued a restraining order that bars any contact with the victim and requires the offender to maintain a distance of 300 meters for six years. In addition, the offender was ordered to compensate the victim with 11,000 euros to cover the harm caused, including moral damages. The ruling includes measures that acknowledge the impact of the abuse on the victim and the need for restitution, underscoring the court’s commitment to both accountability and the victim’s recovery.
A mitigating factor related to reparation of damage was applied because the accused had already deposited the compensation amount for the benefit of the minor before the trial. The sentence also suspends the actual imprisonment for four years, provided that no new crimes are committed during that period, offering a pathway for continued rehabilitation without immediate incarceration.
The proven facts recount the first abusive incidents in July 2017 when the man took the child to the pool with his own children and, while the girl sat on his shoulders, engaged in sexually inappropriate touching that showed clear sexual intent. The narrative points to a pattern of behavior that escalated over time and targeted a family member rather than presenting risk to people outside the family circle.
Two months later, under the pretext of helping with homework, the offender had the girl sit on his lap again and engaged in further inappropriate touching. She managed to free herself and sought privacy in a bathroom, after which he left the child alone in the house. These episodes illustrate a troubling sequence that intensified during that period and reflected predatory conduct within the family setting.
The court’s account of proven facts confirms that similar acts recurred during the summers of 2018 and 2019 when the girl stayed at the offender’s residence in Alicante. The repeated nature of the abuse and its location within the family environment amplified the gravity of the offense and the lasting harm inflicted on the victim. The judgment emphasizes the breach of trust inherent in abusing a family member and the ongoing risk posed to a minor in such circumstances, which informed the final sentencing and protective measures put in place. [Source: Tribunal de Murcia, case records].