An Argentinian tattoo artist based on the party island of Ibiza has been handed a five-year prison sentence for the sexual assault of a young British tourist. Edgardo Jesus Milessi Oviedo, 50, was convicted following a one-day trial in Palma, Majorca, for an attack that took place in June 2022.
The Assault During a Tattoo Session
The court heard how the 21-year-old victim, on holiday in Ibiza, visited Milessi's parlour in San Jose with a friend on 15 June 2022. Both women had agreed to get matching butterfly tattoos on their left hips. The victim was the second of the pair to undergo the procedure, entering a small room alone with the artist while her friend waited outside.
In a written sentence issued after the 4 November trial, judges described how the assault unfolded. "A few minutes after starting the tattoo, taking advantage of the victim's position and the fact that she was not wearing knickers, the defendant while tattooing her, inserted his left fingers into her vagina without her consent," the ruling stated. The attack lasted for approximately 25 uninterrupted minutes.
The victim told the court that Milessi had "his tattoo gun in one hand" and "the other on her genitals." She described feeling "great anguish and fear" and was "unable to react to what was happening, remaining paralysed, fearing that the defendant might do something worse if she moved."
Investigation and Trial
The young woman reported the crime to police in Scotland upon her return home, leading to Milessi's arrest on 11 August 2022. State prosecutors had demanded a six-year prison term for the artist, who had been on bail since the trial awaiting his sentence.
The judges found the victim's testimony to be "coherent and persistent." It was also revealed that Milessi has a previous conviction for a similar offence.
Sentence and Consequences
The First Section of the Provincial Court of the Balearic Islands sentenced E.J.M.O. to five years in prison for sexual abuse. In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a seven-year ban preventing him from communicating with or approaching within 300 metres of the victim.
He was also ordered to pay €15,000 (approximately £13,000) in compensation to the victim. The convicted sex offender has been informed of his right to appeal. If he does lodge an appeal, he is likely to remain on bail until the process is concluded.
