After admitting to sexually abusing nine minors between 2015 and 2023, a riding instructor from Arenys de Munt has been sentenced to 29 years and 5 months in prison. He accepted a plea deal shortly before his trial at the Audiencia de Barcelona, resulting in a rare conviction in a field where adults are often trusted without question.
The instructor used his position to gain daily access to children and teenagers at the riding school. He admitted to manipulating these relationships, sometimes pretending there was a romantic connection, to initiate sexual contact. The minors never consented. Several Spanish media outlets, including La Vanguardia and Capgros, reported that the agreement was finalized on September 15, 2026, with the defendant accepting full responsibility.
One of the most serious incidents took place in the motorhome where the instructor lived. He took advantage of his roles as both teacher and manager of the riding center.
The charges are extensive. He pleaded guilty to five counts of continuous sexual abuse of minors under 16, three counts of continuous sexual abuse with penetration, one count of producing child pornography involving a minor under 16, one count of obscene exhibition in front of minors, and one count of ongoing degrading treatment. Capgros reported that the abuse was systematic and lasted nearly a decade, with the instructor using his authority to control his victims.
After his release, the court ordered strict supervision for nine more years. Depending on the case, he is barred from approaching the victims’ homes, workplaces, or schools within either a kilometer or 500 meters. He cannot contact the victims in any way for a period longer than his prison term. He is also permanently barred from any job or activity involving regular contact with minors for at least ten years after his sentence. Moncloa and other national outlets reported on these restrictions.
The instructor must also pay €62,000 to the victims as compensation for psychological and moral harm. Set as part of the plea agreement, the amount is intended to address the lasting impact on the victims’ mental health, though it cannot undo the trauma suffered by the children and their families.
The man had been held in pre-trial detention without bail since April 14, 2023. The case also comes amid increased media attention to sexual violence against minors in Spain during this period.
The pre-trial detention measure was extended for two more years in April 2025. Prosecutors originally sought a sentence of 46 years and 3 months, reflecting the repeated nature of the abuse. The final agreement, though shorter, is still among the harshest sentences for such crimes in Catalonia in recent years. La Vanguardia reported that the plea deal was intended to spare the victims the ordeal of a full trial while still ensuring a long sentence and strong protective measures.
The case highlights risks in youth sports and extracurricular activities, where adults may hold unchecked authority. Parents, schools, and organizations must ensure that trust is matched by oversight and accountability.
