The Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción 3 de Elda has ordered the provisional imprisonment of a 42-year-old man without bail, following accusations of committing ten sexual assault offenses in Elda and Petrer, Alicante, between 2017 and 2025. The judge has decided to transfer the proceedings related to some of these alleged offenses to other courts in Elda, where previous investigations had been archived due to a lack of a known perpetrator.

These cases are set to be reopened in light of new evidence that suggests the suspect's involvement.

The National Police reported the suspect's arrest on Friday in Petrer, linking him to eleven sexual assault incidents involving ten different victims, with one victim reportedly attacked on two separate occasions.

The victims, all women aged between 18 and 52, were targeted in a similar fashion, with the suspect employing a consistent modus operandi, identified during the investigation known as Operation Saolín.

Operation Saolín commenced in 2017 after multiple reports detailed similar assaults and provided consistent descriptions of the assailant.

The assaults occurred over several years, with the first incident taking place in a vacant lot in Petrer and the latest reported in May of this year.

In all cases, the perpetrator approached the victims from behind during nighttime hours, often near the victims' residences.

The prolongation of the investigation was attributed to the sporadic nature of the assaults, the initial lack of substantial information, and the absence of conclusive evidence during the first few years.

Eventually, investigators identified a clear criminal pattern and secured vital evidence from one of the most recent assaults, which pointed to the suspected assailant's identity.

The investigation focused on a specific area adjacent to the suspect's home, employing advanced techniques for crime reconstruction and personal identification.

Collaborating with the Behavioral Analysis Section of the General Police Judicial Cooperation Unit, investigators obtained crucial behavioral data about the assailant.

The suspect was ultimately identified and arrested at his residence in Petrer, where items allegedly linking him to the sexual assaults were discovered.

DNA analysis conducted throughout the investigation played a significant role in confirming his suspected involvement in these crimes.

Meanwhile, in San Sebastián, a 39-year-old man was detained by Ertzaintza on charges of continued sexual assault against a woman within the context of domestic violence.

The arrest occurred after the victim reported ongoing sexual assaults.

Officers acted on the information provided and the evidence gathered at the scene.

The suspect was subsequently brought before judicial authorities, who mandated his imprisonment.