British tourist, 73, brutally robbed, beaten and raped in Tenerife | World | News
police in Tenerife (Image: Getty)
A 73-year-old British woman was brutally raped, beaten and robbed while on holiday in southern Tenerife.
The attacker entered the holiday home after climbing a 1.8 meter high wall before physically and sexually assaulting her. He then threatened her and stole her money, jewelry and keys. Valuables were hidden in a small safe inside the wardrobe.
The shocking crime took place eight years ago but has only just come to light following a trial on the island.
The person responsible for the rape that occurred on May 13, 2018 was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
The conviction was based on conclusive DNA analysis and security camera footage showing that the victim recognized him.
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The defense lawyer described the biological test as an “environmental element” and requested the acquittal of his client and the application of criminal mitigating factors for excessive delays.
However, medical experts documented the presence of various wounds and bruises on the woman, completely consistent with the facts. They said it was “trillion times more likely that the DNA belonged to the defendant than it belonged to anyone else.”
The British woman sadly died seven months after the attack but had previously given evidence against the man.
He spent long periods in Tenerife to escape England’s bad weather, the court was told. His apartment was in the southern resort of Arona.
The victim, who had COPD, was sexually assaulted and beaten for approximately two hours and was hospitalized in Santa Cruz.
He told police that the attacker only stopped after opening the safe containing the money and jewellery. He terrorized her so much that she had to give him the code. He also told police the man showed no signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The woman died in January 2019. Although the cause of death was not related to the attack, his daughter stated at the hearing that her health deteriorated after the beatings and rapes.
Delays in the case included a hearing in which the defendant failed to arrive in Tenerife from mainland Spain, claiming he had lost his passport and was unable to travel. When an agreement could not be reached in the defense, another hearing was postponed.
The 32-year-old Spanish man claimed he had nothing to do with the attack, despite working on the island at the time. He said he left Tenerife the next day because he had work in hotels and was not running away.
He was arrested in Valencia two months after the attack. He was caught on CCTV cameras in the residential complex and was also identified by a woman he had robbed nearby the same day. She described the clothes she wore in detail and was seen on social media wearing the exact same ripped white trousers, orange sweatshirt and white t-shirt.
It was decided that the attacker should pay 33 thousand 500 euros to the woman’s heirs and the jewelery should be returned. More compensation may also follow.
