On March 8, authorities in Catalonia reported the detention of a boy under 15 for a sexual assault case involving a 13-year-old girl. A juvenile court, acting at the prosecutor’s request, granted conditional release and ordered a prohibition on approaching the victim within 250 meters. Both minors, who live in Esparreguera in Baix Llobregat, were seen attending the same municipal center for socio-educational support. This incident adds to a troubling pattern of sexual violence among youths, including reports that an 11-year-old was assaulted by several adolescents and that two high school students in Badalona and El Vendrell faced attacks from peers. The local social services acknowledge that both families were already facing deep-in-seated vulnerabilities and had been receiving support for years, in a bid to protect their privacy and safety.
sexual assault complaint
The most recent alleged case occurred on Sunday, March 5, when a relative picked up the younger child from her home around five in the afternoon. The families live in close proximity. A mother explains that her daughter asked to go home because she believed other friends would be present, a claim that proved not to be true. The mother describes how she advised her daughter to walk, to call first, and then to video call upon arrival to ensure safety. The account she shares emphasizes that after the encounter, the girl documented the events to support her account.
The alleged violation reportedly took place in the defendant’s room. The minor involved reportedly admitted that the two had kissed and that a video had been recorded. The girl states that the acts were not consensual and that she was pressured, leading to a situation where she changed her routine later that evening. It is noted that the daughter returned home around seven and then isolated herself in her room, taking prescribed medication and seeking rest.
The victim’s mother attributes the emotional strain to a recent bereavement in the grandmother’s passing and the stress brought on by the ongoing health crisis, which affected the child’s wellbeing. She notes that the girl began attending a therapeutic program at a local open center near Esparreguera Town Hall designed for minors in potentially risky situations. The mother explains that therapy occurred once a week after school, and the two underage individuals already knew each other, with the relationship intensifying after meetings at the center.
Protocol Activation
A school district psychologist contacted the family at noon on Monday to relay information about the situation. The family took the emergency contraceptive pill as a precaution, and the minor involved stated that the relationship did not have her consent, saying she did not want what happened.
That same Monday, March 6, a family member learned that a video had circulated within the institute showing the younger child kissing the alleged aggressor. The older sister began to investigate the boy’s circle of friends and learned from the victim that she had disclosed the assault to a friend. By Tuesday, March 7, the child was taken to Sant Joan de Deu Hospital for medical assessment. After a forensic examination, the family filed a formal complaint with the police in Martorell, initiating official proceedings.
Children’s Prosecutor’s Office
The juvenile prosecutor conducted interviews with both the alleged aggressor and the victim on Thursday, March 9. The following Friday, the court decided to place the boy under controlled freedom with a prohibition on approaching the victim within 250 meters while investigations continued for sexual assault and related offenses, including the distribution of the video showing the minors together. The defense for the victim requested a closed center placement, and the case now awaits potential appeal within five days.
The victim’s mother confirms concerns about the level of support received during the process from social workers and regrets a lack of accompanying services during the judicial step that brought the parties into a direct meeting. The encounter last Friday at the Ciutat de la Justícia with the attacker sparked an anxiety attack for her daughter, underscoring gaps in initial support and guidance.
Esparreguera Town Hall notes the involvement of two families facing sensitivity and vulnerability. Officials highlight that authorities were informed promptly, and they worked with DGAIA, Mossos d’Esquadra, and Sant Joan de Déu Hospital. The center managers at the open program are allowed to adjust schedules for the aggressor’s attendance to avoid coinciding with the victim’s time at the open center, aiming to reduce potential risk and provide stability for the children involved.