A 49-year-old Coevorde resident has been sentenced to 22 months in prison (8 suspended) for abusing his niece from Hoogeveen; she was 14 when it happened.
The abuse took place between October 2019 and October 2020 at the man’s home, where the girl often visited, and in the car of the Coevorde resident. He regularly picked her up from Hoogeveen and then took her to a remote road near Nieuwlande, the girl told the police.
After her father had an accident a few years earlier, she was taken care of by her aunt and uncle at home in Coevorden. At the time, a strong bond developed between the man and his niece. De Coevordenaar has denied the abuse to the police and also two weeks ago in court in Assen.
Love declarations
The court finds the girl’s statement that he has performed sexual acts with her several times reliable. This is supported by many chats that the two sent each other via Snapchat every day. The man sent the girl declarations of love and said that he “wanted more and that he could.” From the conversations, love seemed to come from both sides. A girlfriend of the man also told the police that he was ‘obsessed’ with his niece.
Although the man himself denied it, according to the public prosecutor, everything showed that he was in love. During the trial, the public prosecutor pointed out to the man that adolescents are in full development and that their hormones are flying in all directions. She is not to be blamed, but her uncle is.
Dependent position
The court agrees with the public prosecutor and accepts his hefty sentence – the man has never been in contact with the judiciary before. ‘The suspect was not concerned about the dependent position of his niece. Nor has he fulfilled the duty of care, as could be expected from him as an uncle who was regularly entrusted with the care of his niece,” the court said.
In addition to his sentence, the man must also pay 5,000 euros in compensation to his niece. He must also undergo treatment and may not contact her.