Wrocław court upholds 25-year prison sentence for child and animal sex abuse

Appeal court upholds 25-year sentence

On 2 October 2026, the Court of Appeal in Wrocław delivered its judgment in the appeal of 45-year-old Przemysław L. from Kłodzko, who was prosecuted on 26 charges involving sexual crimes against children and animals. The appellate panel maintained the aggregate 25-year prison term originally handed down by the District Court in Świdnica. The court mandated that the perpetrator serve the sentence within a specialized therapeutic regime established for individuals convicted of sexual offences. In addition, the judges restricted his eligibility for early release, ruling that conditional parole cannot be considered before the convict serves a minimum of 20 years in custody.

Presiding Judge Bogusław Tocicki addressed the therapeutic requirement during the hearing:

The sentence is to be served in a therapeutic system for perpetrators of sexual offences.

Individual terms adjusted and compensation ordered

Although the aggregate sentence remained at 25 years, the appellate court accepted the prosecution's request to increase individual prison terms for specific offences. For the charge of sexual intercourse with an individual under the age of 15, the court elevated the penalty from 3 years to 12 years of imprisonment. For rape charges, the individual sentence was lengthened from 6 years to 8 years. The ruling also established substantial restitution for the victims, requiring Przemysław L. to pay 100,000 PLN each to two underage victims and 50,000 PLN each to four adult female victims.

Protective measures and detention calculation

The appellate judges modified several post-release restrictions and protective measures. The court issued a 15-year prohibition on Przemysław L. occupying positions, pursuing occupations, or conducting activities tied to the education, care, upbringing, and medical treatment of minors, which is the statutory maximum under Polish law. The previous general animal ban was narrowed to specifically prohibit him from keeping a dog or dogs for a maximum term of 15 years. Contact bans concerning the victims were sharpened to durations of 2 and 3 years. The court also determined that his time served will be credited from 5 July 2023, the date Swedish police executed a European Arrest Warrant in coordination with investigators from Östersund, rather than the subsequent date of his extradition to Poland.

Background of the case and co-defendant status

The case was built upon evidence that included numerous photographs and video recordings made by the defendant while committing the abuse, which included drugging victims with intoxicants. In June, prosecutor Mariusz Pindera explained why the Świdnica prosecutor's office appealed the March 2026 first-instance ruling despite accepting the overall term:

The judgment of the District Court in Świdnica delivered on 10 March 2026, although assessed as correct regarding the overall sentence of 25 years imprisonment, was nevertheless considered by the prosecutor to be glaringly lenient regarding certain individual penalties imposed.

Proceedings also encompass his wife, Kamila L., a former political activist from Kłodzko. In the original March trial, she received a 6.5-year prison sentence for failing to provide aid to a minor undergoing sexual abuse and for animal cruelty after witnessing zoophilic acts. Prosecutors have demanded that her sentence be increased to 18 years, while her defense counsel filed an appeal seeking full acquittal. She remains out of custody while awaiting her appellate trial, which the Wrocław court plans to schedule in October for a likely November hearing.