A Swedish court has sentenced a 61-year-old man to four years and five months in prison after finding that he forced his wife to provide sexual services to more than 120 men.
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The ruling followed a trial in Härnösand on Sweden's eastern coast, where judges convicted the man of attempted rape, aggravated pimping, assault and unlawful threats. The court concluded that he exercised extensive control over his wife through intimidation, violence and surveillance.
Abuse Spanned Several Years
The case has attracted international attention and has been compared by some observers to the crimes committed by Dominique Pelicot in France, although the circumstances differed.
Neither the convicted man nor his wife has been publicly identified.
Threats and Surveillance
Prosecutors said the abuse began in 2022 and continued until October 2025, when the woman reported her husband to police.
According to the court, the man used drugs, threats and the isolated location of the couple's farm near Kramfors to maintain control over his wife. Prosecutors said he threatened to kill her, burn her with petrol and sever her fingers.
Security cameras installed around the home were also used to monitor her movements, with some sexual encounters recorded by the surveillance system.
Swedish broadcaster SVT reported that the woman eventually escaped by using an area of the house not covered by the cameras before contacting police.
Court Rejects Consent Defence
Throughout the investigation and trial, the man denied wrongdoing, arguing that he had merely helped arrange consensual sexual encounters.
The court rejected that defence, finding that he had "ruthlessly exploited" his wife. Judges ruled that he pressured and manipulated her into performing sexual acts, broadcasting some online, receiving additional sex buyers and attempting to involve neighbours and customers.
The judgment stated that much of this coercion involved persistent pressure and degrading treatment. The court also found that the man initiated the sale of her sexual services and managed most aspects of the operation.
Charges Against Buyers
Authorities identified around 120 men who had obtained sexual services through the arrangement. However, only 29 were ultimately charged.
Most denied the allegations, claiming either that no sexual activity occurred or that no payment was made.
The court convicted 28 of purchasing a total of 56 sexual services. Two received prison sentences, while the remaining defendants were given suspended sentences or placed on probation.
Judges dismissed eight rape charges against the husband, saying prosecutors had not proven that the woman's participation was involuntary in those cases or, in one instance, could not determine exactly what sexual acts had taken place. Three additional attempted rape charges were also dismissed, although one count of attempted rape resulted in conviction.
In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered the man to pay his wife 200,000 Swedish krona (£15,900) in damages.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 June 2026
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