The Sección Segunda of the Audiencia Provincial de Castellón handed a man an 11-year prison sentence for repeatedly sexually assaulting his daughter over about five years. The abuse began in 2018, when the girl was seven, and continued until she disclosed it to her school tutor on 12 April 2024, at age 12. The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunitat Valenciana published details of the ruling.
The court found that the father took advantage of times when he was alone with his daughter at their home in the Plana Alta region, while his wife was away at work. The acts began with inappropriate touching and kissing, then escalated to more severe sexual practices. The ruling said the father described his conduct as “teaching the girl about sex.”
By 2021, after the victim had her first menstruation at age 10, the assaults had grown more frequent and intense. The court said sexual contact took place almost daily or every other day, and the repeated abuse led the girl to regard sexual relations with her father as normal. The case came to light on 12 April 2024, when she confided in her tutor. The tutor informed the school administration and the Guardia Civil, prompting a formal complaint.
The sentence requires the convicted man to pay €15,000 in compensation for the psychological harm and suffering he inflicted on the victim. It also bars him from coming within 500 metres of her home or school and prohibits any form of communication with her for 10 years after the judgment becomes final, followed by a further 10 years after he serves his prison term. The court imposed eight years of supervised release and revoked his parental rights for six years, barring him from exercising the associated legal authority.
The victim has suffered impressive psychological harm and requires ongoing medical treatment. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed to the Sala de lo Civil y Penal of the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The case has renewed attention on how schools and authorities can identify and respond to sexual violence against minors. The disclosure to the school tutor on 12 April 2024 brought the abuse to the attention of the school administration and law enforcement. In a different context, recent political developments also show the importance of institutional responses to sensitive issues. Sumar considered nominating a candidate from outside its coalition, reflecting broader shifts in Spanish public life (more on coalition changes here).
Spain’s legal structure for addressing sexual violence against children includes measures intended to improve reporting and victim support. Their practical impact can depend on timely intervention by schools and healthcare professionals, followed by action from law enforcement. The Castellón ruling sets out prison and financial penalties alongside restrictions on contact and parental authority, showing the range of protective measures imposed in this case.
