AN elderly tourist who was sexually assaulted and robbed in a Brit holiday hotspot has seen her attacker locked up for nearly a decade.
The 72-year-old woman was holidaying in Tenerife when she was brutally attacked in the resort of Puerto de la Cruz, leaving her with serious injuries and lifelong trauma.
Her assailant will now spend nine and a half years behind bars and was also ordered to pay £11,320 (€13,000) in compensation for her physical and emotional injuries.
The woman was attacked in Puerto de La Cruz in December 2022.
Many Brits flock to the town every year, both on holiday and to live.
The elderly tourist had been returning home when she was chased by the defendant.
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She immediately identified him after cops nabbed him just days later.
Speaking of her terrifying ordeal, the woman said she had been returning home from dinner at midnight when the young man approached her.
She said he spoke to her in fluent English, before trying to kiss her on the neck.
Attempting to evade his advances, the woman pushed him away and said her husband was waiting for her at home.
He continued to assault her, pushing his way into her home.
They continued to struggle, where the terrified woman was able to kick and hit her attacker.
Despite her continued resistance, the vile man pulled her underwear down and attempted to touch her genitals twice.
As she fought back, the man took her bag – which held two pairs of glasses, a mobile phone, €400 cash (£348) and make up.
One of the pairs of glasses were valued at €600 (£520).
Taking her belongings, he ran.
A court in Santa Cruz was told the woman had since received psychological treatment, has continued problems sleeping and has been prescribed medication.
The court heard the woman also remains unable to go out by herself, especially at night.
She has also since returned to live in England, however said the move was for other reasons.
The defence put forward an argument citing the man’s mental health – saying he suffered from schizophrenia.
But this was quickly dismissed after it was revealed he had been on regular medication and had not had a psychotic breakdown, as he had on two previous occasions.
The woman suffered a wound to one of her eyes, her left breast, right wrist and knee.
She needed medical assistance for her injuries, which later took 10 days to heal.
In her desperate struggle, the woman left her attacker with wounds on his back and hand, showing she had attempted to resist when she was attacked.
The court ordered the man to also pay a further £1,393 (€1,600) for the stolen possessions and a further fine of £1,306 (€1,500) for the injuries caused.
When he is released from custody, he will remain on probation for eight years.
The sentencing comes after a 73-year-old British woman was also brutally raped, beaten and robbed on the Spanish island.
Her 32-year-old attacker broke in to her holiday apartment after climbing a six feet high wall.
He then physically and sexually assaulted her, before threatening the woman and stealing money, jewellery and her keys.
The valuables had been stored in a small safe inside a wardrobe.
The sickening crime happened eight years ago but only recently came to light as a result of a trial on the island.
The man responsible for the 2018 rape has also been given a nine year prison sentence.
The victim died in January 2019.
Her cause of death was not linked to the attack, but her daughter testified at the trial, saying her mother’s health deteriorated after the beatings and rape.