Not legally binding

Disgusting grandpa groped grandchildren and has to go to prison

The grandfather allegedly sexually abused the children, a boy and a girl

(Bild: dpa-Zentralbild/Patrick Pleul)

The grandpa was previously blameless and inconspicuous. But now the 71-year-old was standing trial in Ried im Innkreis (Upper Austria). He is alleged to have abused his granddaughter and grandson. He was acquitted of one charge, but was nevertheless given a hefty sentence - not legally binding.

The abuse is said to have begun in 2009 and the target was the grandson, who was six years old at the time. The grandfather touched his grandson's private parts several times. From 2014, the grandfather is also said to have approached the granddaughter, then aged seven, indecently. He groped the girl almost every time he visited her.

Abused in bed
When the girl, aged ten to twelve, later spent the night with her grandparents in their bed, sexual acts are also alleged to have taken place there. The accused, who is said to have committed the acts in the Bavarian border region to the Innviertel, did not confess at the trial in Ried.

21 months partially suspended prison sentence
At the end of the trial day, the serious sexual abuse - i.e. penetration - could not be proven, but the jury considered it proven that the grandfather had at least touched the grandchildren indecently. He was therefore sentenced under Section 207, Sexual Abuse of Minors. The sentence range is six months to five years in prison.

The 71-year-old was sentenced to 21 months in prison, seven of which were unconditional. As neither the accused nor the public prosecutor's office made any statements, the verdict is not yet final.