A 39-year-old man in Gandía has been jailed after police found sexual images of his baby and his partner’s underage daughter. The case exposes serious risks in online child protection and highlights the role of cybercrime units.
Police in Gandía have arrested a 39-year-old man after discovering he had shared sexual images of his own baby and secretly distributed photos of his partner’s underage daughter on pedophile forums. The National Police’s Central Cybercrime Unit led the operation, which has unsettled the local community and drawn attention to the ongoing risks of child exploitation online.
The investigation began in August, when cybercrime officers found disturbing images of a baby—less than a year old—circulating in illegal online spaces. They also uncovered street photos of a teenage girl, posted alongside messages from a man describing abuse and drugging. Details in the images pointed investigators to a neighborhood in Gandía, where backgrounds matched local streets. According to La Vanguardia, the suspect had previous convictions for similar crimes in 2014 and 2023, which made the case especially urgent.
In 2025, Spanish prosecutors reported a record 865 criminal procedures related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), reflecting a significant rise in such cases nationwide.
Police soon identified the suspect, a Spanish national with a record of similar offenses. On September 1, officers found him hiding in a wardrobe at his partner’s home, wearing the same shorts seen in the abuse images. They also located the exact spot in the house where the photos had been taken, confirming his connection to the material. He is now in pre-trial detention, charged with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material and violating privacy laws. Regional media note that these charges could lead to severe penalties.
The case took another turn when the partner’s daughter, about 16, told police she had never been abused or drugged. She was unaware that intimate photos had been taken or shared. Investigators described the suspect’s fixation on her as obsessive and dangerous. In some images, the girl is seen holding the baby, which helped police link the two victims and move the case forward. The girl’s statement clarified that, despite the existence of illicit images, she had not suffered direct physical abuse—a detail included in official reports.
Authorities charged the man with producing and distributing child pornography and violating privacy laws. He remains in pre-trial detention. The operation shows how Spain’s cybercrime units can track offenders who use digital anonymity to target minors. It also raises concerns about the safety of children in blended families and the risks posed by repeat offenders with access to vulnerable victims.
Spanish prosecutors have separately warned about the unpredictable risks posed by artificial intelligence in the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material. This concern is driving increased focus and resource allocation to cybercrime units across Spain, as authorities adapt to new technological threats in child protection.
As the legal process continues, the case highlights the need for constant vigilance and strong digital monitoring. The National Police’s quick response prevented further harm and showed the value of specialized units in protecting minors. Spain has seen a rise in cyber-enabled crimes against children, leading authorities to invest in better detection and intervention tools. The Gandía case is a clear example that, even after prior convictions, offenders can reoffend if not closely monitored. As seen in previous investigations, gaps in oversight and enforcement can have serious consequences. Digital vigilance and swift law enforcement remain essential in protecting vulnerable children.
