Criminality - A riding instructor was sentenced to prison for sexual misconduct
The Bonn Regional Court sentenced a riding instructor to two and a half years in prison for sexual abuse and defamation of a 15-year-old girl. The defendant, who had run a riding stable for many years, had shamelessly exploited the immaturity of the girls for two years, according to the judgment. The length of the sentence came as a surprise to some observers - the prosecution and civil plaintiff had demanded probation. However, this was not an option for the court in its own words. "Our task as a juvenile detention center is to protect the victims," explained the presiding judge.
The man repeatedly threatened the girl that he would throw her off the farm if she did not do what he wanted, as stated in the judgment. He did not only use the student sexually but also exploited her for work on the horse farm. When the defendant himself fell ill after an accident, the teenager took care of six horses in addition to school, as well as all stable and farm work. She was not allowed to meet her friends and was threatened with expulsion if she did so. He "played down the girl's fear of losing her refuge, in a contemptible manner," according to the judgment.
The 15-year-old girl reported the man. Above all, she testified as a witness to protect other girls.
The case was subsequently handed over to the District Court in North Rhine-Westphalia for further proceedings due to the seriousness of the allegations. The Public Prosecutor's Office in Bonn took the lead in investigating the misuse of power and criminality involved. The defendant's actions greatly contradicted the fundamental principles of decency and respect, as recognized by the court during the process.
