THE number of children convicted of sex crimes in Alicante province has almost doubled in seven years.

The figures relate to 2024 totals compiled by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

48 people aged under 18 years were found guilty last year, compared to 25 in 2017.

WORRYING CHILD CONVICTION TREND

It’s the highest conviction rate for sex offences committed by minors since current figures started being compiled seven years ago.

Only Barcelona and Badajoz provinces had bigger sex offence convictions among children.

Last year’s Alicante total was the highest since 2019.

It’s not known whether the increase is down to a higher level of reporting of criminal activity or an escalation in young sexual offenders.

The same upward trend is mirrored amongst adults in Alicante province.

In 2024, 257 sexual crimes were reported- compared to the 139 recorded seven years ago.

As with children, this is the highest figure since 2017, registering 36 more cases in 2024 than in 2023 and exceeding 200 sexual crimes for the second successive year.

According to the Central Registry of Convicted Persons, 178 adults were convicted last year- the highest total since the INE started monitoring data.

There were 63 more prosecutions than seven years ago and the number of sentences handed down by courts rose in 2024 to 876.

Alicante is the fifth-highest Spanish province for sex crimes committed by adults.
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POLICE in Alicante have arrested a 58-year-old Nigerian man for trying to scam a victim out of €400,000 by claiming he had a ‘magic chemical’ that increased the value of banknotes.

The con started when the detainee contacted the owner of some commercial buildings in Alicante- stating that he was interested in buying one of them for over €1 million.

They met at the victim’s home where the scammer claimed to have brought the money over from Switzerland.

‘MAGIC’ CHEMICALS AMONG SEIZED ITEMS

The fraudster opened up a briefcase containing bundles of black-coloured paper, talcum powder, and fake banknotes wrapped in plastic.

He claimed to possess a ‘family secret’ which was a special chemical that could transform the black paper into genuine banknotes.

He set up a ‘demonstration’ where he had previously wrapped two €50 notes in tin foil along with the other black notes to hoodwink the property seller.

As if by magic, he applied the liquid that amazingly turned the two ‘black’ notes into real currency.

The Nigerian then asked the seller for €400,000 in banknotes of different denominations which he promised to boost into €1.1 million thanks to his chemical process.

He even returned a few days later to leave behind more products and tools, ahead of the final transformation.

The victim however became suspicious and went to the Policia Nacional in Alicante to report what he had been shown.

Officers confirmed that he had been marked out to be duped by a sophisticated scam known as a ‘whitewash’.

The police organised a reception party to intercept the fraudster at his next meeting where he was going to take the €400,000.

They spotted him prowling suspiciously around the area to avoid being spotted and was arrested when he entered the victim’s home.

Chemical products, tools and all the material that was going to be used in the con were seized by officers.
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