A German court jailed a man on Friday (December 19) for repeatedly drugging his wife, sexually assaulting her and posting videos of the attacks online, in a case that has drawn comparisons with a high‑profile French trial last year.

The 61-year-old defendant, identified only as Fernando P. in accordance with German privacy laws, was sentenced to 8-1/2 years by a regional court in the western city of Aachen that found him guilty of aggravated rape and bodily harm.

He was also convicted of violating his wife's intimate privacy for making recordings and distributing them online, the court said.

The case has drawn comparisons in German media to the 2024 trial of Dominique Pelicot in Avignon, France, who was sentenced to 20 years for drugging and repeatedly raping his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to abuse her unconscious body.

A spokesperson for the court in Aachen said: "Between 2018 and 2024, the defendant repeatedly sedated his wife in their former home and then sexually abused her. He is also alleged to have uploaded videos of these acts to chat groups and internet platforms, thereby making them available to other users."

The defendant's court-appointed defense lawyer declined to comment.

The verdict in Aachen was delivered in open court, but most of the trial was held behind closed doors to protect the victim's privacy, the court said previously. A lawyer representing the victim said the court had handled the case in a highly sensitive manner, adding that her client "really has had a voice in this trial."

The lawyer, however, declined to comment on the sentence, which she has yet to discuss with her client.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

AACHEN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. DEFENDANT BEING LED INTO COURTROOM

2. VARIOUS OF DEFENDANT SEATED

3. BAG BELONGING TO COURT-APPOINTED DEFENCE LAWYER WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE FILMED

4. CO-PLAINTIFF LAWYER STANDING

5. SERVATY SEEN ON CAMER DISPLAY

6. SERVATY PUTTING GOWN ON

7. VARIOUS OF JUDGES ENTERING COURTROOM

8. KATHARINA EFFERT, SPOKESPERSON FOR AACHEN DISTRICT COURT, SPEAKING WITH JOURNALISTS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESPERSON FOR AACHEN DISTRICT COURT, KATHARINA EFFERT, SAYING:

"The first grand criminal chamber of the Aachen District Court today sentenced the 61-year-old defendant to a total prison term of eight years and six months for serious rape, dangerous bodily harm, and violation of personal privacy through image recordings, among other charges, and acquitted him of the rest."

10. EFFERT SPEAKING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESPERSON FOR AACHEN DISTRICT COURT, KATHARINA EFFERT, SAYING:

"According to the court's findings, between 2018 and 2024, the defendant repeatedly sedated his wife in their former apartment and then sexually abused her. He then uploaded videos of these acts to chat groups and internet platforms, making them available to other users."

12. SERVATY SPEAKING WITH JOURNALISTS

13. (SOUNDBITE) (German) CO-PLAINTIFF LAWYER, NICOLE SERVATY, SAYING:

"I would first like to say that the court has dealt very sensitively with the proceedings and with the co-plaintiff. The co-plaintiff really had a voice in this proceeding. She was able to testify, to express her feelings and everything that has burdened her. Of course, I first have to discuss the verdict as such. And it will not make up for what happened. But it might help a bit to cope with things and process them."

14. SERVATY SPEAKING TO MEDIA