A 43-year-old man who tried to rape a student in Eindhoven earlier this year was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday. The attempted rape happened on May 7 on the grounds of Eindhoven University of Technology.
The student was pulled into a bush around seven o’clock in the evening. Witnesses heard screams and saw a man pull a young woman to the ground and hang over her. When they asked if everything was okay, she managed to escape.
The suspect was later arrested based on the description provided by the witnesses. He had a shopping bag containing beer, lube, a vibrator, duct tape and rope. The student was found by the police crying and with twigs in her hair. She said the man punched her, pushed her to the ground and put his tongue in her mouth. She also had injuries in her mouth.
Crossed boundaries
The suspect allegedly said ‘sorry’ several times, but refused to make any further statements to the police. During the hearing on Wednesday in the court in Den Bosch, he admitted that he wanted to rape the girl and that he had taken the items in the shopper for that purpose.
“This event took place early in the evening, on a university campus,” the prosecutor said. “An environment that should be safe for the victim.” Earlier that day, another woman was allegedly harassed, which was witnessed by fellow students: “Such facts create unrest and a feeling of insecurity.”
According to the Public Prosecution Service, research shows that the man has no respect for the physical integrity of women and has crossed all boundaries. The Public Prosecution Service is therefore demanding a four-year unconditional prison sentence. This means that the suspect must actually serve the sentence.
The verdict will be announced in two weeks.