A 43-year-old man from Emmer-Compascuum has received a two-year prison sentence for the fornication and assault of five girls aged 12 to 14. Six months of this are conditional.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded four years in prison against the man for assault and rape at the end of March. The judge finds the sexual penetration, so rape, insufficiently proven and releases the man from that. As a result, the demand is considerably lower.
The judge does find it proven that he touched two girl on a slide in a German swimming pool. This would have happened in June 2024 during a birthday party of the daughter of the suspect. He kissed one of the girls on the mouth.
The Emmer-Compascumer denies. However, the judge sees sufficient evidence in the statements of the girls and what they have seen with the other person. They told each other these stories immediately after the incident. The judge finds their stories credible and consistent.
The case came to light after one of the girls told her teacher at school. The man also received the punishment for the assault of the daughter of a woman with whom he temporarily had a relationship. During a barbecue he touched and kissed the girl.
The girl shouted during a fight with her mother that she was touched by the new friend and called him a pedophile. The mother accidentally took the fight, without her child knowing it. The judge believes that there is also sufficient evidence to be gained.
A fourth girl would be touched and raped by the man while staying. Only the fornication can be proven according to the court. The way in which this happened corresponds to the other other stories about assault.
The fifth child was 12 years old when she was comforted by the man in 2023 during the Sinterklaas entry. The girl showed herself nervous because she was allowed to play for Piet for the first time. He edged her while comforting.
The judge finds it serious that the man has abused children who had been entrusted to him. He did not take into account the serious damage he has caused. The judge also finds his denial serious: “He takes no responsibility”.
Psychological and stress disorders have been established in the man. Due to the denial, no sexual disorders has been established. The judge finds it necessary for the man to be treated and must cooperate in further investigations.
The chance of repetition is highly estimated without a treatment. All the more so because the man is in a victim role. He believes that a witch hunt has been unleashed and calls the stories of the girls lying. “With this he only brings them more suffering,” the judge said.
Due to the repeat hazard, the man has been imposed a probationary period of five years. He is not allowed to make contact with the victims. In addition, he must pay a damage amount of a total of 7,800 euros.