Six Defendants Sentenced for Torturing Disabled Man in Majorca
Six individuals have been sentenced for subjecting a disabled man to horrific torture, including tattooing a penis on his face and sewing his toes together, as part of a sadistic 'game' in the town of Manacor on the Spanish island of Majorca. The defendants pleaded guilty at Palma Provincial Court on Tuesday, June 30, to crimes against moral integrity, causing bodily harm, and coercion.
The 'Change My Look or Ruin It' Game
The victim, who has a 38% disability due to a borderline intellectual functioning disorder, allegedly initiated a twisted contest called 'change my look or ruin it' via a WhatsApp group. According to the Prosecution Service, the man was incapable of giving consent due to his disability. The game involved challenges; failure resulted in pre-agreed punishments.
One female defendant claimed she was unaware of his disability, stating: "It was all at his instigation. In the WhatsApp group he set up himself, he gave instructions for everything... We thought it was all legal. There was a contract and everything." She added that the group learned tattooing from YouTube tutorials, using a makeshift device with ink, needles, and an injector purchased online.
Details of the Torture
Prosecutors described the ordeal as "a seriously humiliating situation." The defendants tattooed a penis on the victim's face and a bra across his chest, pierced both earlobes, and stitched his right toes together. They bound his wrists with cable ties, sealed his mouth with adhesive, dripped hot wax on his arm to remove body hair, doused him with icy water, and forced him to walk through a supermarket in women's clothing.
The torment escalated in March 2021 when the gang seized his wallet and identification documents, demanding payment according to the competition's financial agreement. The victim refused, claiming they had crossed agreed boundaries, and fled to alert authorities.
Sentencing and Compensation
Police arrested the suspects, and six received five-month jail terms, suspended for two years, provided they remain crime-free and complete an educational programme. They also agreed to pay fines totalling €1,450 and compensation of €18,160 (approximately £15,500) to the victim for emotional distress and injuries. Prosecutors initially sought four-and-a-half-year prison sentences but struck a deal with defence teams and the victim's solicitor.
