A 51-year-old man from Hellevoetsluis was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday for deliberately driving into full terraces in Renesse in Zeeland last summer. According to the court in Middelburg, John D. is guilty of, among other things, two attempted aggravated assault with premeditation. The sentence imposed is in accordance with the demand of the public prosecutor.
The incident took place at 01:00 on Wednesday, August 24 last year. In total, according to the court, the man, a former kickboxer, drove into the terraces of two cafes in Renesse, where a lot of nightlife was present at the time, according to the court. Two people were hit, and at least one person was injured. The fact that the consequences have been limited is not due to the man, the court ruled on Friday.
Before entering the terraces, the man had been involved in several disturbances in the entertainment area. Doormen from several cafes refused him entry, after which he twice got into a “heated discussion” in which violence was used, according to the court.
Doormen
The man threatened the doormen and left, but not much later he drove his car into the entertainment crowd and people had to jump aside for the car. “It felt like an attack to those present, which made a very big impression,” the public prosecutor said earlier in court.
After entering the terraces, the man walked back to the entertainment area with, among other things, a chisel in his hand, which, according to the court, created another threatening situation. Agents eventually overpowered D. with a stun gun and pepper spray, after which he was arrested. He’s been stuck ever since.
When imposing the sentence, the court took into account that D. has previously been convicted of similar criminal offences. The court also banned the man from driving a car or other motor vehicles for three years.
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