A worker at an adult products shop in Alfafar, Valencia, was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of sexual abuse after inappropriate contact with a customer inside a fitting room while attempting to demonstrate a sex toy. The defendant argued that his actions were part of a legitimate sales process and intended to promote the product. The Valencia Criminal Court rejected this justification, noting the offender’s lascivious state and concluding that the claimed business justification did not excuse the physical contact with the 25-year-old complainant. The court described the conduct as a direct breach of professional standards, warranting punishment.
The events occurred when a 38-year-old Venezuelan national, with a prior conviction dated September 15, 2019, was employed at the shop. Evidence established that while assisting a customer interested in an erotic game, the employee concealed a vibrator in his pocket, moved closer to the client, invited her into a dressing room, and drew the curtain to close it.
Two colleagues testified that entering a dressing room with a client was not standard practice in the shop
The sentence highlights a clear discrepancy between the defendant’s account and witness testimony. Surveillance footage captured seconds and minutes spent in the private space, confirming that more than three minutes elapsed inside the dressing room. This contradicted the defendant’s assertion that such a procedure existed and that no physical contact occurred during that time.
During the private interval away from customers and other staff, the accused reportedly turned away from the client, covered her eyes, restrained her arms behind her back, and forced her to endure stimulation with the vibrator against her chest. He then attempted to kiss her by grabbing her head and asking for a kiss, to which she refused. After releasing the blindfold, he held her face and kissed her before leaving the dressing room, saying goodbye.
Despite the incident, the customer remained interested in purchasing an erotic game bundle. At payment, the clerk handed her a card bearing his name and phone number to explain how the product performed, as he had described during the demonstration. After confiding in relatives and recognizing that the events were not normal, the young woman filed a complaint almost immediately. A psychological evaluation at the Valencia Forensic Medicine Institute noted that the defendant’s conduct left the victim feeling uncomfortable and tense, with persistent anxiety symptoms [source: Valencia Forensic Medicine Institute assessment].
Defense arguments and judicial assessment
The defendant’s legal team suggested a possible fraudulent motive, alleging envy over sales volume by the supervisor. The court rejected this theory, finding insufficient evidence and noting that the claim relied on proximity rather than documented proof [court records].
The court found the victim’s account credible, consistent, and coherent, and did not detect any motive to falsify the claim. No request for compensation was made by the victim, and the detailed testimony reinforced the conviction rather than casting doubt on it. The defense’s attempt to portray the incident as a benign conversation was rejected, with the court concluding that the actions exceeded acceptable boundaries and constituted abuse.
Confronted with the victim’s compelling narrative, the defendant argued that more than three minutes were spent alone with the client and claimed their interaction was merely a discussion the young woman imagined. The court weighed the evidence and affirmed the seriousness of the misconduct.
Accordingly, the Valencia 10th High Criminal Court sentenced the man to one year in prison for sexual abuse. Since the sentence falls under two years and the offender had no prior criminal record, the execution of the sentence was suspended pending further review, in line with applicable Spanish law and court practice as of the present period [judicial note].