Woman asked for night messages to stop but man continued – conviction for breach of communication peace in Lahti

Päijät-Häme Regional Court in Finland has convicted a 44-year-old man from Lahti of breaching communication peace after he repeatedly sent non-essential messages to a woman late at night, despite her requests for him to stop.

The court sentenced the man to 30 day-fines, amounting to a total of €1,500. In addition, he was ordered to pay €500 in compensation to the recipient of the messages for the distress caused. The man is also liable for approximately €2,000 in legal costs and a €40 victim surcharge to the state.

According to the court, the man sent numerous messages through a messaging app during evenings and early mornings over a period of about a month between April and May 2024. The messages were not necessary for handling any agreed-upon matters between the parties.

The court ruling does not specify the relationship between the parties, though it notes they share the same surname. The conviction is not yet legally binding.