Andorra Court Sentences Madrid Tourist to 3 Years for Nightclub Rape, Mostly Suspended

The Criminal Court of Andorra la Vella has sentenced a 21-year-old tourist from Madrid to three years in prison for raping a 25-year-old seasonal worker in a Pas de la Casa nightclub. The ruling considers the sentence served after the 10 months he spent in pre-trial detention, leaving him free with the remainder on conditional suspension.

The incident occurred in the early hours of 1 March 2025 in the nightclub's restrooms. The man was arrested that night and released on provisional liberty on 24 January 2026, ahead of the trial's conclusion.

Prosecutors sought six years in prison, 12 years of no-contact order, and expulsion from Andorra, arguing the act occurred without consent. The defendant denied the charges, insisting the encounter was consensual and involved no violence or coercion. Police who attended described the victim as "anguished and in shock," while noting the accused's defiant demeanor. Expert witnesses testified that he showed no violent profile or traits typical of a sexual aggressor, bolstering the defense.

The court rejected the consent claim, finding the rape proven but imposing a lighter penalty than requested. Additional measures include a 10-year ban on entering Andorra, a decade-long prohibition on contacting the victim, payment of €5,502.59 (or €5,552 per some reports) in compensation to her, and coverage of court costs.

The four-year suspension applies to the unserved portion of the sentence. The case centered on conflicting accounts of consent in a nightlife setting, with the ruling closing a contentious proceeding.