She was ‘madly in love’ and gave him everything. He called her ‘whore’ and, according to the Public Prosecution Service, behaved as a pimp and lover boy. The man heard in court on Monday that he was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
The first contact was through a game, in May 2020. The young woman from Ter Apel, lonely, with low self-esteem and a bad time behind her, immediately lost herself in the relationship. She was thinking about a family, he mainly wanted her money and even encouraged her to do sex work.
The now 32-year-old man from Capelle aan den IJssel appeared in court in Groningen on Monday on suspicion of human trafficking, exploitation and fraud.
Sneakers and sushi
They would set up a sneaker business and start a sushi shop. She gave him cars, 9,500 euros in savings, borrowed another 12,600 euros and then transferred him 600 to 900 monthly and later 300 euros per week.
When that turned out not to be enough, she had to earn money on social media and sites with sex photos and videos, meet up with men and almost ended up ‘behind the windows’ in Amsterdam.
60,000 euros wasted and wasted
Nothing came of the plans. Her money – a total of approximately 60,000 euros – disappeared like snow in the sun. The man, who barely worked himself, made a living trading stocks and bitcoins, living off it and spending it on gifts and vacations with other girlfriends. He fathered a child with one of them.
The woman from Ter Apel received nothing. He never came to the North and when they did meet, it was sex in a hotel room that she paid for. In the 2.5 years of ‘the illusion of a relationship’, not even a bouquet of flowers could be gotten rid of.
Emotional thumbscrews
The case came to light when the woman was unable to deposit ten euros during a Sinterklaas party at work. Her manager advised filing a report.
During the hearing, the suspect insisted that everything was a joint decision. The many chats revealed a different story. When the woman developed physical problems and wanted to quit sex work, he tightened the emotional thumbscrews: “Wouldn’t you even do that for us?”
Cold and businesslike
Every time she indicated that she could no longer cope, he became cold and businesslike.
She: ‘I went to the doctor, it’s not going well.’
He: ‘You’re not sick, you’re confused.’
Grooming
She continued for fear of losing him. The victim’s lawyer called it a typical case of grooming. Making someone fall deeply in love and then exploiting them.
He demanded a five-year contact and location ban and 82,000 euros in damages. Made up of reimbursement, plus incurred and future costs, because the traumatized woman is still under treatment.
Exploitation, fraud, human trafficking
The Public Prosecution Service – which found human trafficking, exploitation and fraud proven – agreed, plus a prison sentence of 30 months, 10 of which were conditional, and cooperation in guidance and programs.
Because psychological research showed that the suspect, although fully accountable, exhibits a large number of traits of psychopathy. His character was described as egocentric, lacking in empathy, ‘not optimal in terms of intelligence’, with antisocial and narcissistic traits.
‘Not out of fear, out of love’
The chairman of the court also made this point from the hearing: “This story can evoke a lot of emotion, I didn’t see it in you.”
The man’s lawyer nevertheless requested an acquittal. After all, everything happened by mutual consent. The woman was never beaten, threatened or verbally abused and retained her autonomy. There would be no evidence of exploitation. “She chose to give money and cars to her client. Not out of fear, out of love.”
Dirty and desperate
The woman from Ter Apel used her right to speak and outlined a relationship of sadness, fear and loneliness. She was no longer in control, was in survival mode 24/7 and felt dirty and desperate. To the suspect: “You took such advantage of me, I still don’t understand why.”
The court will make its ruling in two weeks.