A 31-year-old teacher of the Christian school community Ubbo Emmius in Stadskanaal has to go to jail for a year and a half for the abuse of a 15-year-old student from that school. The court blames the teacher heavily for not being able to keep his professional distance and for having had sex with the student several times in a classroom and gym.
The now ex-teacher from the Borger-Odoorn municipality denied three weeks ago during the hearing that he had a relationship with the girl, despite the compromising messages on his phone and a child pornographic photo of the girl.
In his closing words, he partly blamed the victim. “She probably stated incorrectly because of her problems and her home situation.”
That he continues to deny to this day and describes his own behavior as clumsy, the court charges the suspect, according to the verdict. “That he has not hesitated to portray her as an impressionable girl who has made incriminating statements under the influence of family,” the court writes.
At the beginning of April 2022, the teacher reported to the director of the Ubbo Emmius that he was being blackmailed by two of the girl’s cousins, who, according to him, had falsified conversations between him and the girl. The director did not change his mind and called the police who launched an investigation.
The girl, who struggles with anxiety and depression, initially denied the relationship because she hoped the teacher wanted to continue the relationship with her. The teacher would have said that he would leave his wife. When she heard from a friend that she had seen the teacher hugging his wife, she concluded that there was no future together and admitted that she had indeed had a relationship.
The victim told the court three weeks ago how the affair has left deep marks in her life. “I still had to go to school every day. I felt everyone looking at me. I couldn’t hide. I thought school would be safe. I hope I was your only victim…”
The teacher now works as a financial advisor for the municipality. “Isn’t it your own fault that you got into this situation?” asks the judge.