A 49-year-old man in the Canton of Bern has been convicted and ordered to pay over 7,000 francs after sending a series of disturbing, sexually explicit notes to a 14-year-old girl. A penal order issued by the public prosecutor's office also found the man guilty of separate charges of theft and trespassing.
Key Takeaways
- A 49-year-old Swiss man was convicted for sending four harassing notes to a 14-year-old girl in the Canton of Bern between February and June 2025.
- The notes contained explicit sexual content, causing significant distress to the girl's family.
- The man was identified after an investigation revealed he had been working near the family's home.
- He was also convicted of multiple thefts from supermarkets, including one where he was already banned.
- The total financial penalty, including a fine, fees, and DNA analysis costs, amounts to 7,086.25 francs.
Disturbing Messages Spark Investigation
Between February and June 2025, a family in the Canton of Bern experienced growing alarm after discovering four anonymous, handwritten notes in their mailbox. The messages were directed at their 14-year-old daughter and contained explicit and threatening sexual propositions.
According to the public prosecutor's office, the content of the notes was direct and unsettling. One message reportedly stated, "I want to have sex with your daughter." Another read, "I have seen your daughter, she is pretty, I want to have sex with her."
These unsolicited messages caused the parents to fear for their daughter's safety, prompting them to report the incidents to the authorities. The family was concerned about a potential physical assault on the teenager, leading to a formal police investigation.
Suspect Identified and Motive Revealed
The investigation quickly determined that the author was not a peer of the victim but a 49-year-old adult male. Authorities identified the man, a Swiss national, who had been performing work in the vicinity of the family's residence. This proximity allowed him to observe the girl.
The penal order from the Canton of Bern's public prosecutor's office stated that the man had developed a fantasy about the teenager. This fixation allegedly motivated him to write and deliver the harassing notes over the course of several months.
Legal Framework for Harassment in Switzerland
In Switzerland, sexual harassment is a criminal offense. It can be prosecuted under several articles of the Swiss Criminal Code, including coercion, insult, and threatening behavior. The use of written messages to cause fear or psychological distress, as in this case, can be classified as a threat, which carries legal penalties including fines or imprisonment.
A Pattern of Criminal Behavior
Further investigation into the man's activities revealed a history of other offenses. In addition to the harassment case, the 49-year-old was found responsible for multiple instances of theft from local supermarkets.
These thefts were not isolated incidents. Significantly, one of the stores he stole from had already issued a ban against him for previous misconduct. By entering the premises to steal goods, he also committed the crime of trespassing (Hausfriedensbruch).
This pattern of behavior was considered by the prosecution when determining the charges and subsequent penalties. The combination of offenses painted a picture of an individual with a disregard for both personal boundaries and property laws.
Conviction and Financial Penalties
The 49-year-old man was found guilty by penal order on multiple charges. The convictions included:
- Threatening behavior (Drohung)
- Sexual harassment (Sexuelle Belästigung)
- Trespassing (Hausfriedensbruch)
- Theft (Diebstahl)
A penal order is a procedure used in Switzerland for clear-cut cases, allowing for a conviction without a full court trial if the accused does not contest it.
Breakdown of the Sentence
The court imposed a significant financial sentence on the convicted man. The total amount of 7,086.25 francs is composed of several parts. This multi-faceted penalty reflects the severity of the combined offenses.
Financial Penalties Imposed
- Monetary Penalty: 3,600 francs (120 daily rates at 30 francs each). This was designated as a supplementary sentence to a prior conviction from May 2025.
- Fine: 1,000 francs.
- Procedural Fees: 950 francs.
- DNA Analysis Costs: 1,536.25 francs. These costs, incurred during the investigation to link the suspect to the evidence, were billed directly to him.
The sentence structure, particularly the supplementary penalty, indicates the man had a recent criminal record. This prior judgment was a factor in the new sentence, highlighting a continued pattern of unlawful behavior.
The case highlights the serious consequences of harassment and the diligence of local authorities in pursuing offenders who cause fear and distress within the community. The combination of charges demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing all aspects of the man's criminal actions.
The resolution of this case brings a measure of justice to the affected family, who endured months of anxiety due to the man's actions. The financial penalties and convictions serve as a formal condemnation of his behavior by the legal system.