Turku man detained over several suspected sexual offences

Yle reports that a young man has been detained on probable cause of several sexual offences in Turku, including rape and attempted rape.

The Southwest Finland District Court ordered the man to be remanded in custody on Friday afternoon. He attended the hearing remotely from prison, initially covering his face. The hearing was held behind closed doors.

Police are investigating at least five suspected sexual offences. The alleged victims were women aged approximately 20 to 50 who were selected at random, according to police. The incidents took place in or near central Turku during the evening or at night, between December and August.

The suspected offences include two sexual assaults, attempted rape and rape. Police say the rape allegedly took place two days ago.

Earlier attempted rape stopped by postal worker

The man has previously been convicted of a serious sexual offence. In 2024, the Southwest Finland District Court sentenced him for aggravated attempted rape and a drug use offence committed that year.

According to the court, he followed a woman he did not know as she was walking alone in the Nummi district of Turku and tried to rape her in a park. A postal worker intervened and stopped the rape.

During police questioning, the man initially confessed to the act but later denied it. In court, he denied aggravated attempted rape but admitted the drug use offence.

The district court sentenced him to four years and six months in unconditional imprisonment. According to Iltalehti, the Court of Appeal also imposed a prison sentence of more than four years in the same case last year.

The man also has a conviction for assault committed in 2023. The matter was not heard in court until about two years later. The court did not impose a separate sentence for the assault, stating that his earlier lengthy sentence was sufficient.