They were in love with each other, but they were way too different. He was a caretaker at a school for special education in Helmond and she was a student. He was in his fifties and she was only fourteen. He was dominant and she was dependent. They had daily contact and that soon led to sexual acts. And that is why justice demanded 3.5 years in prison against the caretaker on Thursday.
AS (56) from Helmond looked like a broken man on Thursday. During the 2.5 hour session he cried continuously. At times he was barely audible due to his emotions. Because, how stupid he had been to establish such a far-reaching friendship with a student from his school.
He was the spider in the web at school and stood in the middle of the students. The fourteen year old girl looked up to him and fell in love with him. She called him her soul mate and second dad. and she couldn’t do without his help. After cuddling in a room, it quickly turned into daily messages and an appointment was made at the caretaker’s home. That was to give free guitar lessons, but little came of that.
Vulnerable girl
The message traffic revealed the image of a very vulnerable girl and a dominant man. She wanted to do well, while he often reacted angrily and demandingly, often in capital letters: “YOU DON’T DO WHAT YOU PROMISED,” he would write to her. And then it was about sexual acts.
The girl was afraid of losing the man and so their relationship became increasingly lopsided. Until exactly a year ago, when she was sixteen, she had enough. She told her whole story to the doctor and Veilig Thuis and that’s how the police got involved. AS was arrested and spent two weeks in jail.
Confidential advisor
The public prosecutor was not lenient with the man. What he did and what he confessed to was really unacceptable, she thought. “He was her confidant and wanted to help her. But he did the opposite,” she said.
According to the judiciary, there is sufficient evidence that the man already had sex with the girl when she was fourteen and that continued until she was sixteen. She was always afraid that he would get angry and did her utmost to keep AS happy.
Suspect admits everything
What is special in this case is that the suspect admits everything. Research shows that he is not a pedophile or has any other sexual disorder. It seems that it was an exceptional crush between a young girl and a much older man, which went way too far.
It can still be explained biologically, the lawyer said. But such an unequal relationship is punishable, the public prosecutor said. According to experts, AS does not need to be treated, but he does deserve a substantial unconditional prison sentence for his actions. She therefore demanded 42 months in prison.
‘I have so many regrets’
AS ended the hearing as he had started it: he let his tears flow freely. Back in jail means he will also lose his new job. “I have so many regrets” were his last words.
The court will rule in this case on January 25.
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At the beginning of this year we spoke to the girl’s father. He was shocked to hear how the caretaker had abused his daughter.