BENNY LUNDQVIST EXTRADITED TO MERSEYSIDE FACING JUSTICE IN THE UK
Benny Lundquvist, a 65-year-old from Sweden, was recently extradited to the UK to stand trial for his disturbing crimes in Merseyside.Prior to his extradition, Lundquvist suffered a stroke in late 2020, just months before he was brought back to face charges.
He has since complained about the quality of healthcare in British prisons, claiming it does not match the standard he received while in a rehabilitation centre in Sweden.
Lundquvist had molested a young girl in Merseyside, an assault that had a profound and lasting impact on her life.
The victim, who was very young when the abuse started, was subjected to sexual acts by Lundquvist, who also exposed himself to her and pressured her to perform sexual acts in return.
Prosecutor Frances Willmott stated that the girl "didn't tell anyone because she had been told to keep it a secret." As she grew older, she realized the abuse was wrong, was distressed, and confided in friends, but by then Lundquvist had already left the area.
He was eventually extradited to the UK, where he was tried in January and found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.
Ms.
Willmott noted that the now adult victim described engaging in self-harm during her teenage years and struggling with her body image, partly due to comments made by Lundquvist.
She continued to suffer from suicidal thoughts, flashbacks, and difficulties in forming sexual relationships, which led her to seek therapy.
Despite her struggles, she had not been able to openly discuss her trauma until now.
Lundquvist, who resides at Blockfljtstigen, Kungsngen, Sweden, had no prior convictions either in his home country or in the UK.
Defense lawyer Mark Pritchard explained that his client’s comments in a pre-sentence report limited the mitigation he could present.
Pritchard further revealed that Lundquvist continued to face health issues stemming from his October 2020 stroke in Croatia, where he was airlifted to an intensive care unit in Sweden.
He was hospitalized in a stroke unit for several months, during which he was unable to walk or speak properly and was fed through a tube.
Following his discharge to a rehabilitation centre, Lundquvist’s medical treatment was interrupted by the extradition process, which put his rehabilitation on hold.
Pritchard detailed that Lundquvist still experiences sensory deficits, including hearing loss on the left side, numbness on the right, and head pain.
He also explained that the medication Lundquvist relied on to prevent further strokes was only accessible after two months in custody, suggesting a health deterioration.
Additionally, Lundquvist suffers from a hormone imbalance, which in Sweden was treated via injections.
However, in the UK, such treatment is restricted to a few specialists, and without the injections, he reports difficulties sleeping, brittle bones, and generalized achiness.
Pritchard emphasized that the prison healthcare system does not match the quality he received previously.
Judge Louise Brandon acknowledged the victim’s statement and the devastating impact the abuse had on her.
She noted that the woman continued to struggle with feelings of shame and disgust, leading her to contemplate suicide, and said, "She struggles with feelings of shame and disgust.
She has contemplated suicide because of the disgust she feels at what you did to her." The judge highlighted the significant delay in bringing Lundquvist to justice, pointing out the victim’s initial silence and conditioning by the defendant.
Addressing Lundquvist directly, she said, "I have read your pre-sentence report with care.
You have maintained that you did not commit the offences and so have shown no remorse, understanding or empathy for your victim.
It’s clear you put your own sexual desires above the consequences of what you were doing." Considering Lundquvist’s age and health, which would likely make incarceration particularly harsh, the judge sentenced him to eight years in prison.
She stated he would be released after serving half of that term, at which point he would be subject to automatic deportation.
Furthermore, Lundquvist is required to register as a sex offender for life.
