• Sweden edition

Court finds Swede’s under-robe rubbing ‘not masturbation’

Published: 7 May 09 07:36 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19298/20090507/

A woman from Lund in southern Sweden accused her 38-year-old neighbour of making unwanted advances, but a court ruled the man may simply have had an itch.

The woman’s suspicions were aroused when she realized that her neighbour would head out to his balcony every time she sat down in her kitchen, writes the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

Speaking with police, the woman’s boyfriend said he too had seen the accused neighbour on his balcony performing “masturbatory movements” beneath his robe.

During questioning, the neighbour admitted he had been out on his balcony when the woman was in her kitchen and that it was possible that his robe may have opened, but not on purpose.

He also pointed out he had his underwear on at the time.

Nevertheless, the 38-year-old was charged with sexual molestation and put on trial in Lund District Court.

According to the court, it was entirely possible that the man’s under-robe movements were not in fact an attempt to pleasure himself in front of his female neighbour.

Rather the man may have simply needed to scratch an irritating itch caused by rash which has broken out along his groin, said the court, which consequently acquitted the man of all charges.

TT/David Landes (news@thelocal.se)

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09:01 May 7, 2009 by peropaco
ROFLMSAO. I doubt is was a simple case of jock itch.
09:54 May 7, 2009 by bocale1
Well, summarizing, I am in my house (since I guess my balcony is still part of my house), I see a woman in the window in front of me and I touch myself (even with my underwear on) and I may be accused of sexual molestation... WHY? Should I even be accused of molestation because I masturbate myself thinking about my female neighbor, then...? Or, am I still allowed to walk on the streets with my hands in the trousers pockets (because also this fact may be understood as masturbation attempt)?

This is going very much too far and reading this news together with the news of proposal of being guilty of rape unless the contrary is proved (instead of the opposite as in all legal systems around the world) gives me the idea that Sweden is getting totally paranoid about sexual matters.
10:40 May 7, 2009 by Snikk
Just ignore the guy... how many times did they have to watch him scratch his crotch?

I'm sure that his rash would eventually go away.

IF NOT... then catch him on video.
11:01 May 7, 2009 by dtes
yeah where is your video? i think you folks owe this man a bottle of jock itch medicine.
14:40 May 8, 2009 by Vidyadhara
Anyone else wonder how the copycats are going to be dressed?
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