Eugenio Crespo sentenced to 15 months for hate crime against Dénia councilor

Spanish police officer Eugenio Crespo was sentenced by the Supreme Court to 15 months and one day in prison for a hate crime and sexual discrimination against Dénia councilor Javier Scotto. The court also imposed a three‑year ban on holding any position related to education, sport or leisure, a daily fine of €10 for nine months, and ordered Crespo to pay €12,880 in compensation (€6,880 for injuries and €6,000 for moral damage).

The conviction follows earlier rulings by the Audiencia of Alicante and the Benidorm criminal court, which had already found Crespo guilty and issued a restraining order against him. The Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, confirming the lower courts' findings. The harassment, carried out through social‑media insults and a public display of a homophobic slogan, caused Scotto severe anxiety, insomnia and required psychotherapy for 172 days.