A 58-year-old man, who has worked at several schools in central Sweden, faces charges for serious sexual offenses against 15 girls. The investigation began after students reported his behavior to school staff. The man, who denies the charges, is accused of inappropriate touching and taking indecent photographs of students.
School Pedophile Suspect Charged with Multiple Sexual Offenses Against Children
School Pedophile Suspect Charged with Multiple Sexual Offenses Against Children
A 58-year-old man has worked at several schools and is now charged with sexual offenses against 15 girls. He is suspected of inserting fingers into a student's private parts.
The man has worked for many years at various schools in central Sweden, most recently at a school in Uppsala. The investigation gained momentum when some girls reported his behavior to a school counselor last spring.
Last Friday, he was charged with aggravated sexual assault against children, multiple counts of aggravated sexual molestation of children, several counts of sexual molestation of children, harassment, and child pornography offenses.
"The whole thing came to light when some of the girls told school staff and guardians what they had experienced, who then reported the incidents," says prosecutor Bente Erfäldt, who is leading the investigation.
The school's principal states in a police interview that several girls provided a consistent account of what happened, and their stories are similar.
"The girls reportedly said that XX (the 58-year-old's name, editor's note) wanted them to sit on his lap, and when they did, he began to stroke their backs, buttocks, and inner thighs."
One girl recounts in an interview.
"He just comes and scratches. It wasn't pleasant for me and my friends."
Threatened to Enter the Locker Room
She also says that during a sports lesson, the man threatened to enter the locker room.
"He said, 'Hurry up, or I'll come into the locker room.' But we weren't late or anything, so we all got worried. We had to rush and get dressed."
When the principal confronted the man last spring, he was sitting with another girl on his lap.
"He says the girls sit on his lap voluntarily. I told him he needs to act professionally and avoid having students on his lap," says the principal.
But it also involves much more serious assaults.
"Scratched Her Up in the Private Area"
A student has told police that the 58-year-old once took her to a group room in the school's premises.
"He put his fingers inside her pants, inside her underwear, and then in her private area," says the principal.
The man was arrested on May 15 this year and has since been questioned several times. He denies the charges, claiming he has a good relationship with all his students. However, he admits to letting students sit on his lap and scratching their backs.
"The children asked for it," he claims.
He also alleges that a girl pleaded with him to be scratched under her shirt.
"I did it when she asked for it."
58-Year-Old: "They Wanted That Care"
He also claims that other school staff do the same.
"Many do this at the school, and the fact that they targeted me made me a bit irritated and disturbed. She didn't go after any of the women who did the same. But it felt strange to say no to the children when they wanted that care."
The man admits to photographing several children at the school, but when asked about a specific picture focusing on a student's private area, he responds:
"The camera focuses itself. It must be a mistake."
Prosecutor: Strong Evidence
There are more pictures with the same focus area. What do you think about that?
"I don't know. I have nothing to say about it."
Are all of them mistakes?
"No comment. Can't answer that."
Senior prosecutor Erik Grönvall, who is the deputy investigation leader, says: "We assess the evidence as strong. The material includes the girls' consistent accounts of what happened to them and what they saw happen to other girls, as well as technical evidence in the form of pictures and videos on the accused's electronic devices."