German ‘babysitter’ convicted in major child sex abuse case
A 45-year-old German man who had offered babysitting services online has been convicted of sexually abusing children
BERLIN (AP) — A 45-year-old German man who had offered babysitting services online was convicted Tuesday on charges of sexually abusing children in a case that shocked even veteran investigators and led them to uncover numerous other abuse suspects.
The regional court in Cologne sentenced the defendant, whose name wasn't released for privacy reasons, to 14 years and six months in prison. It also ordered him held in secure confinement after the end of his sentence.
Prosecutors had asked the court to impose a 15-year sentence, the maximum length normally permitted under German law, arguing that the defendant's crimes were particularly grave.
Investigators said the man had documented the abuse of babies, children and teenagers, and shared videos and images of “unimaginable brutality” with dozens of people.
