The court found that the man abused the girls—who are cousins—from the ages of 6 and 7 until they were 14 and 15, respectively. The abuse occurred when they were left in his care almost every afternoon, as their parents were unable to look after them due to work commitments.
The events took place between 2006 and 2015, prior to the enactment of Spain’s “Only Yes Means Yes” law, which redefined any non-consensual sexual act as sexual assault.
According to the ruling, the man ran a canteen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and managed a social club on weekends. When the parents went out at night, they would leave the girls in his care.
To suppress any resistance from the minors, the man exploited his position of authority. He told them such acts were normal and would grab them forcefully. He would also get angry or pretend to cry, telling them not to say anything because it would "destroy the family."
In his defense, the man claimed that one of the girls made the accusation to extort money, alleging that her father had gone bankrupt and had asked for jewelry belonging to the man's late wife and cash. He also blamed the accusation on the older girl’s romantic relationship.
The court dismissed these claims as “unsupported by evidence and implausible,” noting that the man had limited financial resources and that the girl had confided in her mother before starting any relationship.
Both girls required psychological treatment. One suffered from alopecia at age ten and exhibited behavioral issues, including rebellion and difficulty engaging in healthy sexual relationships. Her cousin also experienced severe mood changes and outbursts of anger, prompting her parents to seek psychiatric and psychological help. However, she did not disclose the abuse at the time—not even to her cousin.
When the parents confronted the accused, he neither denied nor explained the allegations but simply lowered his head. Several witnesses later testified that his behavior with the girls had always seemed suspicious.
The man was acquitted of two charges of showing pornographic material to minors, as alleged by the prosecution.
