A 49-year-old man has been given a two-year prison sentence and a TBS with compulsory treatment, because he committed indecency with children in his hometown of Oirschot over eleven years. The court in Den Bosch has determined this. Child pornography was also found on him. Dozens of parents were present when the judge made his ruling. “He put his own interests first.”
The parents who came to the Palace of Justice in Den Bosch felt directly or indirectly involved in the fornication affair. After all, it concerned their children or the children of fellow villagers with whom they sympathized.
There was silence during the reading of the verdict. Then followed an outburst: tears welled up in mothers and fathers’ eyes, grown men fell into each other’s arms, crying. “Recognition,” one of them exclaimed. After the first emotions had been processed, there could also be some smiles.
Caused a lot of suffering
The judge understood what the case had brought about. According to her, the man compromised the integrity of his victims and caused great suffering to both the children and their parents. The man abused the trust that others had in him, she made it clear in the packed courtroom. He was friends with the families of which the children he abused were members. The behavior of the man, who has been convicted twice before for pedophile excesses, also caused great unrest in the local community.
The abuse started at the end of November 2012. The first boy to be subjected to it was just nine years old at the time. The man regularly had his hands in his pants and later did the same to his other victims from Oirschot. In some cases he also touched their private parts.
The ball started rolling in October 2021 when an Oirschot resident reported sexual abuse of her son. The fornication only ended in January last year. The boy whom the man then assaulted was twelve. Soon after, child pornography was found at the man’s home and more reports of fornication and sexual assault followed.
Lawyer wanted acquittal
Two weeks ago, the public prosecutor demanded forty months in prison, TBS and a restraining order. The man’s lawyer argued for acquittal of everything his client had been accused of. The court was in line with the Public Prosecution Service. According to her, there is no reason to doubt the reports and the reliability of the victims’ statements.
The judge blamed the man for only wanting to satisfy his own feelings of pleasure. Moreover, she had great difficulty with the fact that he did not want to be open about what he had done.
Two years in prison, minus pre-trial detention, and paying almost 5,000 euros in damages is therefore a logical punishment, the judge believes. To prevent him from committing crimes again, his pre-trial detention must be lifted. When his prison sentence is over, he will be required to undergo TBS treatment. Much to the relief of many residents of Oirschot.