BERLIN — A court in the German city of Aachen has sentenced a 61-year-old man to eight-and-a-half years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife over several years, filming the assaults and distributing the videos online.

The defendant, identified only as Fernando P in line with German privacy laws, was convicted of aggravated rape, grievous bodily harm and violation of personal privacy.

The court found that he sedated and sexually assaulted his wife at their home between 2018 and 2024.

Court spokesperson Katharina Effert said the man also recorded the abuse and shared the footage on internet platforms and chat groups, making it accessible to other users.

Large parts of the trial were held behind closed doors to protect the victim’s identity.

The woman’s lawyer, Nicole Servaty, said her client was able to fully testify and express the impact of the abuse during the proceedings. While the verdict could not undo what happened, she said it may help the victim begin to process the trauma. The ruling is subject to appeal.

German media noted similarities between the case and a high-profile trial in France last year involving Dominique Pelicot, who was convicted of drugging his wife and facilitating her rape by dozens of men over several years.

According to Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), victims of drug-facilitated sexual abuse are almost exclusively women, with such crimes typically occurring through the exploitation of trust within marriages, partnerships, families or close social relationships. — Agencies