AirBnB Flat Owner Jailed For Raping US Tourists
The 34-year-old assaulted the two American women after they booked online to stay at his apartment in Barcelona.
Friday 19 December 2014 20:04, UK
A man has been jailed for nearly 12 years for raping two American holidaymakers who rented his flat through accommodation website AirBnB.
Pablo Cesar Cordoba Riascos attacked the women, aged 24 and 26, when they arranged to stay at his home in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2011.
The 34-year-old Colombian showed his victims around the city, where "they drank very large quantities of alcohol", according to a court statement announcing Friday's verdict.
After showing them his flat, he took advantage of their inebriation and raped them.
"The two victims found themselves unable physically to repel the desires of the accused", the Barcelona court statement said.
Cordoba Riascos took photos and video of the sex attack and was "aware the women were not consenting".
The two women reported the assaults to Spanish police the next morning.
They also told AirBnB, which enables property owners to rent out rooms, flats or homes online, after returning to the US.
The San Francisco-based firm banned Cordoba Riascos from its website.
Cordoba Riascos then wrote to the women and threatened to make the photos and videos public if they did not retract their charges, but the pair refused.
Police searched his apartment in March 2012, and found hundreds of similar photos and footage taken of other young women.
He was jailed for 11 years, nine months and one day after being convicted of double rape, violation of privacy, and making threats.