The Aachen court convicted 61-year-old school janitor Fernando P. of secretly drugging, raping and filming his wife, and sharing the footage online. He was sentenced to eight years and six months; the offences were found to have occurred between 2018 and 2024 and involved 34 image recordings. Campaigners say the case exposes gaps in German law — notably the need for a clearer affirmative-consent standard and criminalization of possession of rape material — and compare it to France's Pelicot scandal. Activists and some politicians are urging legal reform and stronger oversight of online platforms.
German Janitor Sentenced to 8½ Years for Drugging, Raping and Filming His Wife — Calls Grow for Legal Reform
The defendant Fernando P. sits in court awaiting the verdict in Aachen, western Germany, on Friday. - Roberto Pfeil/AFP/Getty Images
A court in Aachen, western Germany, has sentenced 61-year-old school janitor Fernando P. to eight years and six months in prison after finding him guilty of secretly drugging, sexually assaulting and filming his unconscious wife, then sharing the footage online.
The court said the defendant violated "the most intimate sphere of private life and of personal rights through image recordings in 34 cases, including in four cases in concurrence with aggravated rape and dangerous bodily harm." He was also convicted on counts of aggravated sexual coercion and sexual assault. The offences were found to have taken place between 2018 and 2024. The court noted that some other charges resulted in acquittal; details of those acquittals have not been released.
What the Court Found
According to the ruling, the defendant repeatedly sedated his wife in their home, sexually abused her while she was unable to resist, and recorded the attacks. He then distributed the recordings in group chats and on internet platforms without her knowledge or consent. An appeal may be filed within one week of the judgment.
Campaigners demand reform of German sexual criminal law at a protest in Berlin on November 25. - Santiago Rodriguez/ Nur Ja Heisst Ja
Broader Context and Comparisons
The verdict drew immediate comparisons to the high-profile case in France involving Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted last year after soliciting dozens of men from an online chatroom to rape and abuse his then-wife. That scandal led to a major public debate in France about gender-based violence and how the law should respond to coordinated online abuse.
Campaigners’ Concerns and Legal Gaps
Advocates say the Aachen case exposes gaps in German law and enforcement. The activist group Nur Ja Heisst Ja — which translates to "Only Yes Means Yes" — described the case as "very significant," arguing that Germany needs clearer affirmative-consent standards and stronger protections when victims are incapacitated. While German law does require explicit consent in exceptional circumstances (for example, when a person is unconscious or drugged), campaigners say the current framework still places too much emphasis on a victim having to resist or verbally refuse.
"It’s a case that kind of shows where there are gaps in our legal system," said Jill S., an activist with Nur Ja Heisst Ja, who asked that her surname not be published to avoid online abuse.
Campaigners also point to another legal shortcoming: possession of rape footage is currently not criminalized in Germany. Activists welcomed a recent initiative by Kathrin Wahlmann, a justice minister in the state of Lower Saxony, to press for a change that would make possession of such material illegal.
The Aachen case is the first of its kind to be heard by the German courts, according to campaign group Nur Ja Heisst Ja. - Santiago Rodriguez/ Nur Ja Heisst Ja
Investigations and International Echoes
Investigative journalists in Hamburg previously uncovered evidence that another man had posted videos for 14 years on an adult website that allegedly showed the drugging and rape of his wife; that suspect died in 2024 and was never charged. Meanwhile, across the border in France, politician Sandrine Josso has warned that online communities can enable and refine methods of abuse — an issue she says is personal after filing a complaint in relation to an alleged drugging incident involving a senator.
Implications
Advocates and some politicians hope the Aachen verdict will prompt legal reforms, better policing of online platforms, and more convictions of perpetrators who share abusive content. Campaigners say the case highlights how the internet can foster networks that normalize and amplify sexual violence, and they are calling for laws that better reflect those realities.
Correction: German law requires explicit consent in exceptional circumstances, such as when a person is unconscious or drugged. This article has been updated to reflect that legal nuance.
