Finnish court sentences man to over two years in prison for child rape after Snapchat contact

A district court in Finnish Lapland has sentenced a 22-year-old man to two years and three months in prison for the repeated rape of a 14-year-old victim, whom he first contacted via Snapchat, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The Lapland District Court ruled that the defendant, now 22, engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old victim on multiple occasions. The court also found that he committed additional sexual acts, sent sexually explicit messages, and coerced the victim into sending images of their body. The victim and the defendant had discussed sexual acts and drug use in their messages.

The man was ordered to pay the victim 4,500 euros in compensation for suffering and to cover the victim’s legal costs. The court dismissed the defendant’s claim that the exchange had been merely mutual messaging, stating that the significant age difference and written evidence confirmed the charges of child rape.

According to the verdict, the victim had initially tried to protect the defendant during police questioning, and both parties had considered themselves to be in a relationship. The court determined that the defendant had exploited the trust he gained to direct the situation toward sexual activity, though no force was used. The crimes occurred over several months in 2023.

The defendant has denied the charges, maintaining that no sexual acts took place. The district court’s ruling is not yet legally binding and may be appealed.

Yle is withholding the defendant’s name to protect the victim’s identity.