A 13-year-old boy from a private school in Valencia, Spain, was allegedly gang-raped by five classmates during a school sports trip to Malaga in March 2022. The boy, who had been severely bullied by the group, was ambushed in a hotel hallway and locked in a bathroom where the assault occurred. Some members of the group raped him while others encouraged the attack, with the ringleader reportedly saying, “let him suffer, let him suffer, I want to see him suffer.”
Following the assault, the boy was blackmailed into silence with threats, including calls to his younger brother, instilling fear that his sibling would be targeted next. The victim endured two months of daily humiliation and threats, which led to a mental breakdown and a catatonic state. He was hospitalized multiple times and diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and severe dissociative amnesia.
Only one of the alleged attackers has been charged in Valencia’s Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, facing a possible 15-month sentence, supervised release, and a sexual education program. The others are either too young to be held criminally responsible or have invoked their right not to testify. A potential sixth attacker remains unidentified.
The case has caused significant upheaval at the school, with trips banned, many students leaving, and parent-teacher association members resigning. The victim and his siblings have since left the school.
This case highlights ongoing challenges with sexual violence among minors and the difficulties victims face in seeking justice and recovery. Similar cases across Europe and beyond show a troubling pattern of abuse, often involving grooming, threats, and long-term trauma.
