In June, 38-year-old Fredrik Lundgren was sentenced in the Lund District Court for the rape, which was committed in his home in Hörby in October last year, as well as several sexual assaults. The sentence was five years in prison.
The prosecutor had in the Court of Appeal requested a stricter sentence and wanted the rape to be classified as gross. But the Court of Appeal for Skåne and Blekinge also believes that it is a rape of normal degree – and reduces the sentence to four years in prison.
Exploited the girl
Just like the district court, the court of appeal believes that it is a case of improper exploitation of the girl. She was in a particularly vulnerable situation and did not participate voluntarily in intercourse, the court believes, which takes into account the large age difference, the girl's social situation, and that she was intoxicated with alcohol.
The prosecutor meant that the girl was also drugged with a narcotic preparation, but the court does not believe that is proven.
Admittedly, there was a large age difference between them, but neither that nor the circumstances together were sufficient to reach what is required for it to be considered gross rape, says court councilor Ingela Sundin to TT.
She notes that there are circumstances that are aggravating, which makes the sentence value a good bit higher than the minimum sentence for rape, which is three years.
But we do not reach what the district court meant was near gross rape. We thought that you ended up somewhere in between, says Ingela Sundin.
The court also establishes that the previously conditionally granted freedom shall be forfeited in its entirety. This means that the 38-year-old will have to serve that time in prison as well, just over 20 months.
Serial rapist
The man has been described as one of Sweden's worst serial rapists.
In November 2021, he was sentenced by Södertörn District Court to five years in prison for seven rapes and several other sexual offenses. The prosecutor had prosecuted for 24 rapes and demanded a significantly longer sentence – twelve years. He was also sentenced to pay damages to the victims. The Court of Appeal later confirmed the sentence.
The man was conditionally released from prison in March 2024, which sparked widespread protests. The crimes he is now convicted of committed during the time he was conditionally released.
