Five years for attempted rape in El Ejido

THE Supreme Court has confirmed a sentence of five years for a man who attempted to rape a woman at a beach in El Ejido in 2009.

He allegedly approached the woman at the beach and told her he “hadn’t had sex for two months”. She then left and he followed her to her car. She was able to get in, but he grabbed her arm, pulled her from the car and threw her to the ground, where he hit her repeatedly and pulled off her trousers and bikini bottom.

She began to scream and several people came to her rescue. She had sustained injuries to her shoulders, legs, left arm, knees and chest.

The court rejected his appeal, in which his lawyer claimed that the man was not carrying weapons and that the sexual attack was not consummated.

The sentence points out that his intentions to rape the woman were unequivocal and he used violence and intimidation in his attempt to abuse her, which was only prevented by the passers-by coming to her rescue.

He also has to pay a fine of €4 per day for two months for causing bodily harm and has to pay €333 in compensation to the victim.