For rape via the Internet, the 20-year-old perpetrator faces up to 15 years in prison. Although he never touched or met his victims in real life, according to the prosecutor's office, he serially hurt them. The man asked his victims for intimate photos and then used them for threats and blackmail. The youngest of his victims was 11 years old.
Although the 20-year-old, who is accused of rape over the internet, has never touched or met the girls in real life, he has serially hurt them.
– This procedure is unusual because – in the prosecutor's opinion – the rape took place via the Internet – informs Ewa Antonowicz from the District Prosecutor's Office in Zielona Góra. – Few people know and are aware that the crime of rape can also be committed remotely. This means that submitting to another sexual act does not require the direct presence of the perpetrator and the injured party – explains Mariusz Paplaczyk, attorney.
READ ALSO: Sexual violence on the internet. Even 3-year-old children are victims
One of the teenagers trusted her parents and told them everything. The police indicate that this requires great courage from the wronged person. – This first stage, to tell the police that something like this happened. Later we can discover more secrets in other cases – says junior inspector Marcin Maludy from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Gorzów Wielkopolski.
The 20-year-old asked for intimate photos, then used them for threats and blackmail. Fifteen victims were identified, they are from all over the country. The youngest of them was 11 years old. If this had not been stopped, the online abuser would have continued to prowl. – At first, he inspired trust, established a relationship, sometimes a love one, saying that they were a couple – says Ewa Antonowicz.
Ukrainian woman ran a children's home, fled the war to Poland. She is suspected of sexually abusing childrenKatarzyna Czupryńska-Chabros/Fakty po Południe TVN24
How to keep children safe online?
Experts warn that the Internet is an endless zone of dangers that lie in wait for children. – It is not always possible to control everything that our child does on the Internet. Children are clever – points out Agnieszka Siedler, a child psychologist from the Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education.
It is important to talk about the fact that even in the privacy of a room you can meet a predator. The knowledge of how to stay safe on the Internet is similar in adults and children. – Children have the right to even engage in risky behavior, especially teenagers. They are testing the boundaries, investigating what prohibitions mean in general, why adults have introduced certain prohibitions. So they will engage in risky behavior and it is natural – explains Martyna Różycka, expert in child safety, NASK Dyżurnet.pl.
Rape is punishable by life in prison, but the 20-year-old committed it before the laws were tightened. He could end up in prison for fifteen years. His victims will have to deal with this for years.
– There is no such thing as digital tears. We must clearly tell ourselves and always clearly repeat that what happens online has a real impact on how we feel – emphasizes Dr. Maciej Dębski from the University of Gdańsk and the Dbam o Mój Z@sięg Foundation.
Main image source: Shutterstock