An Italian man had been released from custody on a technicality after he allegedly raped a 17-year-old British girl on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
According to reports in Spain, the 18-year-old man was released from custody despite being arrested in the Spanish city of Valencia once the ship had docked.
It is alleged that the man raped the teenage girl when he pulled her into a cabin in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Although the incident was reported to the captain who immediately reported it to Spanish police, the man was released from custody after a judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction over the case.
It is believed the judge dismissed the case as the incident occurred between two non Spanish nationals in Panamanian territory as the ship was registered in Panama.
He has since called for the British, Panamanian and Italian authorities to work together in order to pursue a legal case.
It is believed that the girl was examined following the incident, whilst forensic testing also took place in the cabin where the alleged incident occurred.