A former school bus driver in Germany has been sentenced to five years and six months in prison for raping a schoolgirl 33 times who he drove home between 2014 and 2015 when she was just nine and ten years old.
The Fulda District Court found the 78-year-old man guilty of raping the child, determining he systematically exploited his position as a bus driver and targeted the girl because she was often the last passenger on his route. Diverting from his assigned path, he would park the bus on an isolated dirt road, out of public view, and commit the abuse.
The victim, who at the time attended a special school and lived in a residential care group, endured the assaults for more than a year. The abuse only stopped when she changed schools. However, the trauma persisted, and it was only in 2021 that she found the courage to come forward and file a criminal complaint.
Following her report, authorities searched the man’s home, where they discovered approximately 150 child pornographic files on his cell phone.
During the trial, the defendant did not deny the allegations but claimed he could not remember how many times the abuse had occurred. Little is known about the perpetrator, however, Bild reported that his testimony needed to be translated by an interpreter.
He admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the child but attempted to shift blame, making disturbing and false claims about the victim, claiming she would often try to seduce him and not wear underwear.
Fuldaer Zeitung reported how the court dismissed his statements as “protective claims” and found the victim’s testimony “fully credible, consistent, and without contradictions.”
The prosecution had initially sought a sentence of five and a half years, while the victim’s legal representatives had demanded a harsher punishment of eight years. The defense attempted to downplay the severity of the crimes, arguing that only 15 instances of abuse could be confirmed and questioning the exact timeframe of the offenses.
Additionally, the defense attempted to argue that the defendant was mentally impaired. A psychiatric expert testified that the man suffered from delusional disorders and depression, with a suspected “pedophilic tendency.” The defendant’s son also provided testimony, describing his father as irrational and obsessed with supernatural beliefs.
“You can’t talk sensibly to my father. He lives in his own world. He believes in witchcraft and evil magic,” he told the court.
Despite these claims, the court ruled that the defendant was fully responsible for his actions. The presiding judge acknowledged his advanced age but emphasized the severity of the crimes. The judge stated that the man should be given an opportunity to spend the final years of his life in freedom after serving his sentence but made it clear that justice had to be served.
Now a young woman, the victim continues to suffer from severe psychological trauma, including panic attacks. She has expressed her intention to undergo therapy once legal proceedings conclude.
The court emphasized the long-lasting impact of the abuse, noting that the trauma continued to affect her years after the attacks.
The verdict is not yet final, as an appeal has been approved. However, the victim’s lawyer expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The main goal was achieved: My client was believed, the accused was convicted, and he will serve his time in custody.”
The case was held behind closed doors to protect the victim’s privacy.
