A court in Germany has sentenced a woman to five years in prison for confining her daughter indoors for about seven years.

The case occurred in the town of Attendorn, where the girl was kept inside her grandparents’ home in the Sauerland region until she was rescued in September 2022.

According to court findings, the mother was convicted of kidnapping, abduction of a minor, and mistreatment of a vulnerable person. The grandmother received a two-year suspended sentence on similar charges, while the grandfather was also handed a suspended sentence as an accomplice.

Prosecutors revealed that the child, now 11, was denied access to education and medical care throughout the period of confinement, leading to severe developmental challenges.

The court heard that the mother fabricated claims that she had relocated to Italy with her daughter, cutting off all contact with the child’s father. The grandparents were said to have supported the deception by running errands and reinforcing the false narrative.

Residents expressed shock over the incident, noting that the family was known within the community, making the prolonged abuse difficult to comprehend.

The case drew further attention after reports by ARD indicated that the mother attempted suicide at the start of the trial, which had faced multiple delays before proceedings began earlier this year.