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Two Britons on trial in Benidorm over alleged rape of fellow tourist
Two young Britons deny charges of gang rape after fellow tourist claims she blacked out in hotel room
Two British men have gone on trial in Alicante after being accused of raping a British woman in a hotel room while on holiday in Benidorm. The case centres on an incident that took place in the early hours of Sunday November 5, 2023, after a night out at a local nightclub.The young woman had reportedly just met one of the men on a night out and agreed to return to his hotel. Once there, a second man, a friend of the first, joined them in the room. The woman told the court that after being offered a bottle of water, she began to feel dizzy and started losing consciousness.
According to her testimony, each time she came to, she found the two men taking turns with her. She said she had no memory of agreeing to anything and was clear that she did not want to be with the second man at all.
The two men, however, maintain that everything that happened was consensual. They claimed she willingly went to the room, was fully aware throughout, and left without showing any sign that something was wrong.
Both defendants have been held in pretrial detention since the complaint was made, with the court citing the seriousness of the charges and a possible flight risk, as neither of them lives in Spain. Although bail was set at 5,000 euros each, they chose not to pay it because they could not afford to stay in the country until the trial.
The trial was held without the victim present, as her earlier statement had already been recorded and used as pre-constituted evidence. In her video testimony, she stood by her version of events.
The prosecution is seeking an eight-year prison sentence for each man, while the defence has argued for full acquittal and their immediate release. The case has now been finalised and is awaiting sentencing.
Security footage from the hotel has played a key role in the defence. It shows the group arriving together, talking in the lift, and later chatting on the hotel balcony. According to the defence lawyer, this suggests a relaxed and consensual interaction. The prosecution, however, insists that the woman only appeared to be engaging with one of the men.
Medical tests confirmed sexual activity with both men, though no traces of drugs were found in her system. The woman admitted to having a few drinks earlier in the evening but said she began feeling unwell after being handed the water bottle.
A hotel receptionist said he didn’t remember anything unusual about the group’s arrival but later saw the woman leave in tears. Her brother, who had gone out with her earlier that evening, later came to collect her. He and their father also attempted to confront the suspects at the hotel, causing a disturbance that led staff to call the police.
This case comes after the recent report of another disturbing incident on the Costa del Sol involving British tourists and a young woman who said she was raped while on holiday.
In the Benidorm case, with the trial concluded, the court is now deliberating and any sentencing is expected soon.
Image: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels
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