Martial arts trainer convicted of assaulting girls he trained

A martial arts trainer has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for assaulting girls he trained. The man is appealing the sentence.

The martial arts coach was accused of abusing his position to obtain sexual intercourse and for sexual intercourse with minors under the legal age for sexual intercourse.

On Monday, NRK reports that the coach has been convicted by the Hordaland district court on both charges.

– He is convicted of everything. It was a relief and as expected, says counsel for one of the victims, Cathrine Pryser Grøndahl, to the channel.

The indictment included abuse of three minor athletes and spanned a period of 15 years.

Prosecutor Eli Andrea Skaar submitted a request for three years and nine months in prison. However, the man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with a penalty discount of three months due to the long processing time, NRK is informed.

In addition, the man must pay compensation of a total of NOK 550,000 to the three victims, as well as compensation of NOK 100,000. He is also deprived of the right to coach girls under the age of 18 over a period of five years.

The martial arts trainer’s defender, lawyer Frida Nikoline Barlaug Haugland, asked for a full acquittal in court. She explained that her client did not recognize himself in the accusations.

Barlaug Haugland warns that the judgment will be appealed to the Court of Appeal.