In Spain, a “delito leve” (minor offence) is the lowest category of criminal offence: minor assault without serious injury, minor threats or coercion, theft or damage under 400 euros. It is tried at a very quick hearing before the court in Vilanova i la Geltrú, sometimes only days after the events. A lawyer is not compulsory, but no duty lawyer will be assigned to you either. If you want to avoid a conviction, a criminal record or an unfair compensation order, the hearing has to be prepared. Call 618 799 647 and we will tell you today, in English, what to do.
What a “juicio por delito leve” is and why it moves so fast
Since the 2015 reform of the Spanish Criminal Code, the old “faltas” (misdemeanours) became minor offences. They are usually punished with a fine calculated in daily units according to your income and, in some cases, with short-term house confinement or community service. There is no prison, but there is a criminal conviction entered in the Spanish criminal record (Registro Central de Penados), which can be cancelled six months after the sentence is served.
There are two routes:
- Immediate trial (juicio inmediato). When the facts are simple (a street fight, shoplifting, threats made in front of the police), the Mossos d’Esquadra or the local police summon the parties directly to the duty court (juzgado de guardia) in Vilanova i la Geltrú. The hearing can take place the same day or within days.
- Ordinary minor-offence trial. If something needs checking first, the investigating court sets a date and summons the parties, usually a few weeks ahead.
In both cases the hearing is oral, short, and everything is decided on what is said and proved that day. Preparation is everything.
The most common minor offences in Sitges and Vilanova
- Minor assault (lesiones leves) and battery without injury (maltrato de obra): a shove, a slap, a bar or festival fight.
- Minor threats and coercion: neighbour disputes, ex-partners, WhatsApp or social media messages.
- Petty theft (hurto leve): items worth under 400 euros, often in shops.
- Minor criminal damage (daños): a wing mirror, a door, a window, under 400 euros.
- Minor insults and humiliation within the family and small-scale fraud.
A summons, a lawsuit or a deadline running?
Call now or message us on WhatsApp. Same-day reply and a fixed written quote within 24 hours.
What can happen to you: penalties and consequences
The usual penalty is a fine in daily units. The court can also order compensation for the victim and make you pay the costs (costas), including, where applicable, the other side’s lawyer. The conviction creates a record that counts if you have another criminal matter in the following months.
We work on three scenarios from day one:
- Acquittal (absolución): insufficient evidence, the facts are not an offence, self-defence or another legal excuse.
- Settlement or reparation: repairing the damage or reaching an agreement with the other party often changes everything; for offences prosecuted only on the victim’s complaint, their pardon or withdrawal can end the case.
- Reduced penalty: if a conviction is unavoidable, we work to keep the fine, compensation and costs to a minimum.
Do you need a lawyer?
The law allows you to appear alone, but it also allows the other party to bring their lawyer. And as an English speaker you are entitled to an interpreter, not to a lawyer who speaks your language. Understanding what is being decided, in minutes, in a foreign language, with no advice, is a real risk.
Situations where it is almost always worth being represented:
- You have a record or another case open.
- Compensation is at stake (injuries, damage, stolen items).
- The complaint is false or exaggerated and you want an acquittal, not a fine “to get it over with”.
- You do not live in Spain all year and need to organise your appearance.
- The other party is a relative or ex-partner, with possible family-law consequences.
You are the victim: private prosecution (acusación particular)
If you have been assaulted or threatened, your shop has been robbed or your car damaged, we can represent you as a private prosecutor: drafting or completing the complaint, requesting the appropriate penalty and compensation, and recovering it. In many cases the cost of the private prosecution is recovered from the convicted person.
How we handle your case
- Same-day call.We read the summons and the police report (atestado) and explain your realistic scenario, in English.
- Fixed quote within 24 hours.In writing, flat fee for minor offences. You know the cost before you decide.
- Preparation.Evidence (messages, photos, medical reports, witnesses, CCTV), preparation of your statement and, where useful, negotiation with the other party.
- Hearing.We go with you to the court in Vilanova i la Geltrú and work with the interpreter.
- After the hearing.Judgment, appeal within 5 days if needed, handling of the fine or compensation.
A summons, a lawsuit or a deadline running?
Call now or message us on WhatsApp. Same-day reply and a fixed written quote within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
I have been summoned to an immediate trial tomorrow. What do I do?
Call us today. We read the summons and tell you whether to request a postponement, prepare the defence in hours or attend with a settlement strategy.
What happens if I do not attend?
If you were properly summoned as the accused and do not attend without good reason, the hearing can go ahead without you and you can be convicted. If you are the complainant and do not attend, the court may treat it as a withdrawal for offences that depend on your complaint.
Does a minor offence give me a criminal record?
Yes, in Spain. The entry can be cancelled six months after the sentence is served. It is not automatically transferred to your home country’s record, but it counts if you face another criminal case in Spain within that period.
Can we settle before the hearing?
Often, yes. For minor injuries, damage or theft, a negotiated reparation frequently leads the victim to withdraw or ask for a minimum penalty. We negotiate and put the agreement in writing.
What does it cost?
We charge a flat fee for minor-offence hearings in Vilanova i la Geltrú (preparation and attendance). Ask for it without obligation: you receive it in writing within 24 hours.
This information is general and does not replace advice on your situation. Every summons has its own deadlines: contact us before deciding.