Liège: three years with partial suspended sentence for rape of disabled woman
A man in his seventies from Liège has been sentenced to three years in prison with one third suspended for rape and sexual assault against his neighbour, a 46-year-old woman with an intellectual disability.
Liège: three years with partial suspended sentence for rape of disabled woman
A man in his seventies was tried on Wednesday in Liège for sexual violence. The criminal court sentenced him to three years in prison, with part of the sentence suspended. He was prosecuted for forcing his neighbour, a 46-year-old woman with an intellectual disability, into sexual relations.
The victim's mental age corresponds approximately to that of a ten-year-old child. The offences took place during 2022 in the Liège region. The perpetrator had established a relationship of trust with his neighbour. He then exploited this proximity to impose repeated sexual contact over several months. The victim was also subjected to threats if she were to disclose the abuse.
The woman's family noticed a change in her behaviour. Relatives and social workers alerted the relevant authorities, which made it possible to put an end to the perpetrator's actions.
An accomplice of the main defendant was also convicted in this case. He was a friend of the main perpetrator, found guilty of indecent exposure towards the same vulnerable person. The judge imposed a sentence of one year in prison and a fine of four thousand euros on him. This decision was handed down in his absence, as the man did not attend the hearing.
This case illustrates the risks to which people with intellectual disabilities are exposed, who can become easy targets for sexual predators because of their difficulty in understanding the situation and in asking for help.
Source: DHNET – https://www.dhnet.be/regions/liege/2026/06/24/liege-trois-ans-avec-sursis-partiel-pour-viols-sur-une-femme-souffrant-de-handicap-ZAWY7ISLRREZPJLEGRM3DPF36Q/
Source: DHnet