Rafael Mir: Former Wolves and forest striker jailed for eight-and-a-half years for sexual assault

Former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker Rafael Mir has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

Mir (28) and his friend Pablo Zara were both there arrested In September 2024 after two women complained of sexual assault at Mir’s home.

Mir’s lawyer said at the time that the intercourse was consensual and Mir categorically denied the allegations.

In a statement released on Monday, a Valencian court said that Mir “sexually assaulted a woman in a swimming pool and in a bathroom” after he and Zara met the women at a nightclub in Valencia.

Mir was playing at Valencia on loan from Sevilla at the time of his arrest.

The former Spain Under-23 striker was jailed for seven years for sexual assault and one year and six months for assault causing bodily harm.

Mir, who was also ordered to pay 64,000 euros (£55,000) in compensation, can appeal the sentence.

“I do not agree with this verdict and we will appeal in the coming days. I have faith in the judicial system,” Mir posted on Instagram on Monday.

Mir moved to Wolves from Valencia in 2018, but played just four times for the club.

He joined Sevilla during his time at Wolves after loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Las Palmas and Huesca in 2021, while he was also part of Spain’s squad at the Tokyo Olympics.

The forward currently plays for La Liga side Elche on loan from Sevilla.

In response to Mir’s sentence, Sevilla said it “expresses our utmost respect for the judicial process and our strong and unequivocal condemnation of any form of violence, abuse or sexual abuse”.

“Such behavior has no place in our society or in the values ​​promoted by sport,” the club’s statement added.

Zara received a two-year prison sentence and a further six months for sexually assaulting a second victim He was also ordered to pay a fine of 6,280 euros (£5,400) for the offense against moral integrity.