Ayia Napa court sentences man to seven years in prison for sexual assault of tourist

The Famagusta Criminal Court sentenced a 37-year-old man to seven years in prison in a case involving the sexual assault of a 33-year-old tourist in Ayia Napa.

The court found the defendant guilty of attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault and coercion into sexual acts. The offences were committed on 29 April 2024.

According to the case file, the man and the woman arrived in Cyprus from one of the European Union countries as friends and were staying in the same hotel room in Ayia Napa. Despite the woman clearly expressing her refusal of any intimate relationship, the man used violence against her and carried out sexual acts against her will. The attempted rape was not completed thanks to the victim's resistance.

In its decision, the court stressed the cruelty and humiliating nature of the convicted man's actions, noting that he completely ignored the woman's fear, pain and pleas to stop the violence.

The court also drew attention to the growing trend of sexual offences and particularly noted that such crimes are serious violations against women and human dignity.

On the sexual assault charges, the man was sentenced to seven years in prison, and on the charges of attempted rape and coercion into sexual acts — four years.