"We can hardly quantify the damage": the TSJC confirms one of the largest compensations for sexual violence in Spain

BarcelonaThe High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) has upheld the conviction of Xavier Padial, the confessed pedophile of Barberà del VallèsSentenced to 57 years in prison for repeatedly torturing and sexually abusing two of his cousins, both minors, and forcing one of them into prostitution. "We do not believe that the compensation awarded makes up for what the victims have suffered at the hands of the defendant, and much less that it is disproportionate," states the ruling, which ARA has accessed, and which confirms one of the highest compensations for sexual violence ever awarded by the State. The court awarded €80,000 to the other girl—who suffered abuse from the age of 6 or 7 and prostituted herself under his influence—and €80,000 to the third girl, who also suffered sexual abuse. The court thus rejected the appeal filed by Padial's defense, who also produced child pornography with material obtained from sexual encounters with Laura. "There is no disproportionality whatsoever. The facts are so serious, and their consequences so grave, that we can only agree with the court's decision," reads the document that upholds the sentence handed down in June 2025 by Section 21 of the Provincial Court of Barcelona. During the trial, held in October 2024, the prosecution held the defendant responsible for the "torture" that Laura suffered for 11 years. The harrowing account of the young woman, who testified when she was 23, and who had received threats and coercion, led the prosecution to conclude that Padial had completely "brainwashed" his cousin, turning her into "a toy in the defendant's hands." The victim recounted to the court how, before meeting with clients, her cousin, who was twice her age, would "prepare" and sexually abuse her: "I had to have sex with him to perform well with the clients."

60,000 images of pornography

The accused attempted to reach an agreement with both victims, offering a sum of money to reduce his sentence. He also requested a six-year prison term, arguing that there were mitigating circumstances: he had made a payment to compensate the girls and there had been delays in the legal process. However, the prosecution, led by lawyer Ángel Aso, rejected the defense's proposal, and Padial ultimately admitted to abusing his young cousins: sexual intercourse with penetration when the girls were six or seven years old, as Aso emphasized. This resident of Barberà del Vallès was found in possession of nearly 60,000 images of child pornography and thousands of sex videos. "It is difficult to quantify the harm the accused caused the victims, especially the first, who was introduced to the sordid world of prostitution at a very young age. How do you assess or quantify the fact that two minors have their childhoods ruined? [...] Surprisingly, in criminal law, there is more emphasis on acts that cause serious impact and suffering to the victim," the TSJC text adds.

The case came to light by chance in 2019. Laura, who was working on a project with some friends, left WhatsApp open on her computer. It was then discovered that the girl was hiding sexual encounters with clients, and that these were being arranged by her cousin.