Nine years in prison for man who raped 15-year-old girl when she gave food the cats (Ghent)

The minor victim was at the neighbors on Monday 12 August last year, who were on vacation to take care of the cats. When she wanted to return home, she was pushed back and raped by an unknown man.

Immediately after the facts, the victim went to the care center after Sexual Violence (ZSG) in UZ Gent and informed the police. The police managed to arrest the 38-year-old suspect for less than half an hour after the incident.

« The DNA lab was able to analyze the traces within a very short term. As a result, there are sufficient indications of debt, » the public prosecutor clarified shortly after the arrest of the 38-year-old suspect. Since the facts, he has been in prison in prejudice.

The Public Prosecution Service progressed seven years in prison, but because of the seriousness of the facts, the judge decided to impose a heavier punishment: for nine years effective. In addition, he will be made available to the criminal court for ten years. That means that he can be kept in jail for longer after that punishment.

The judge also sentenced the man to a contact ban of twenty years with the civil parties. He also has to pay compensation of 3,000 euros to the parents and a provisional compensation of 5,000 euros to the victim, but that amount can still increase.