Seven years in prison for father who abused 5-year-old daughter: « She’s better to learn from me » (inland)

At the end of March 2024 De Horrel came to light when the mother, who is no longer together with the father of her 5-year-old daughter, went to the police. The woman got suspicious after the girl stayed with him for a few days. « When she wanted to put her daughter in the bath and pulled out her stockings, the girl asked to be careful. She was in pain. The child indicated that her dad had ‘massaged’ her and she imitated the movements, » said the Public Prosecution Service.

Pandora

When Speurders were able to read his smartphone after a house search, they met several images of another 13-year-old girl he had also abused. « After reading his cell phone more thoroughly, it was as if the investigators opened the Pandora box. » In the further course of the investigation, chat conversations also came to light in which the thirties asked inappropriate questions and made statements several times.

« He was called ‘dad’ and indicated that he would keep that of young people, » said the prosecutor. In another conversation he was talking about sexual facts with his own daughter. The father flew behind bars and the police seized a second mobile phone. « There was also children’s pornographic material on that. Even his daughter of barely 3 to 4 years old was shown on the images. » In total he was in possession of around 50,000 photos and videos.

Jurisdiction

Lawyer Stijn Mertens assisted the mother and read a letter in her name. « He killed a part of my heart and brought me a wound that is so deep that I have no words to explain it. I believe that every parent would feel this pain. I hope for a world that children do not have to go through the horror of abuse, especially by those who should protect them. »

Just like the court, the fault of the thirties was clear to Mertens. « Mr. denies the sexual acts with regard to his daughter, but a photo has been taken. » Sofie Mockers recorded it for the perpetrator. « Those chat conversations with minors always started from the intention of getting to know someone from loneliness. In a chat he can occur as a normal person without psychological problems or traumatic background. »

For this, the lawyer referred to the difficult youth that her client had, in which he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 7. « Those conversations have been derailed and laid down in contacts that have certainly crossed boundaries. He knows that he has made major mistakes. »

“Perverse fantasies”

The court considered the man guilty across the entire line. It will be in prison for him. After his release for ten years, he will also be posted on the criminal court. His rights have lost the man for ten years. The process costs of almost 1,300 euros are for his account. The perpetrator owes more than 9,000 euros to his victims. « The defendant only strived for the satisfaction of his own perverse fantasies and at no time had an eye for the traumatic impact of the acts set by him, » said the judge in the judgment.