The Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence for a man found guilty of sexually abusing his underage stepdaughter in Madrid. The ruling confirms the conviction already endorsed by the Madrid Criminal Court and reinforces the decision of the Madrid Court regarding the continuation of the abuse involving penetration. The case, which drew attention for its prolonged nature and its impact on the victim, underscores the severity of offenses against minors and the legal recourse available to address such harm.
According to the Court’s decision, the abuse began when the girl was eleven years old. Over the next several years, from 2011 onward, the stepfather engaged in a pattern described as tickling that, in the child’s perception, crossed into sexual activity under the guise of play. This distorted dynamic persisted until the victim reached eighteen, at which point investigators and the judiciary concluded that explicit sexual relations had occurred within the family home on a near-daily basis. The prolonged nature of the conduct and the setting contributed to lasting psychological distress for the victim. Experts noted depressive symptoms and the need for ongoing psychological and pharmacological treatment, with impacts including vulnerability, feelings of helplessness, loneliness, diminished self-esteem, concentration challenges, pervasive shame, guilt, disgust, and at times suicidal ideation.
In assessing the charges, the Criminal Chamber did not apply the Yes-Yes Law in a way that would yield a more favorable outcome for the defendant. The court’s interpretation maintained the existing framework, which results in a minimum sentence of twelve years and six months—three and a half years more than the sentence initially issued. The ruling reflects the court’s view that the benefits of the alternative legal framework did not outweigh the penalties already imposed, given the severity and duration of the abuse.
Beyond the prison term, the Supreme Court also issued ancillary measures intended to protect the victim. It barred the defendant from approaching or communicating with the minor for eight years, in addition to the prison sentence. A period of five years of probation followed, and the court ordered a compensation payment of fifty thousand euros to the victim. The combination of punitive and protective measures aims to address both accountability and the ongoing need for safety and justice for the survivor.