Dutch Volleyball player who raped 12-year-old British girl qualifies for Paris Olympics

[MidnightPatrol]

A beach volleyball player who was jailed for raping a 12-year-old British girl is set to represent the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 after admitting three counts of rape against a child, which took place in August 2014.

He was allowed to serve his sentence in the Netherlands but was released after just 12 months.

The Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) told BBC Sport: "After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional counselling. He demonstrated to those around him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the nomination of individual team members is "the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee".

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c511yz5ze18o

Should this mean be allowed to compete in the Olympics, given his crimes?

The victim isn't Dutch, she's British!

Disgusting and truly indefensible decision on behalf of the Dutch and Olympic committees. He is a paedophile and a danger to young female contestants.

The poor child he raped. What a message to send.

I'm angry that multiple rapes of a child under 13 only carries a sentence of 4 years and even angrier he only served 12 months. I think sentences for rape and sexual abuse are too lenient and have been wondering for a while if it is a hangover of a male dominated legal system / society that does not recognise the seriousness and long-lasting effects.

I'm also angry that his victim now potentially may see him on TV / in the press / talked about and his achievements celebrated. I also think there's a safe guarding issue wrt any under 18 athletes as a PP said. I'm surprised the IOC has no rules about certain convictions or sentences. And I'm also surprised that his playing partner is ok with it.

i very much hope that the british media will not be covering his games out of respect for the victim. Although when it comes to sport, it seems that being likely to win is more important than being a decent law abiding person.

It's fucking horrific

Girls/women don't matter

Well I for one am not going to shut up about it.

Next thing it will be Oscar Pistorius is back running for South Africa.

It's disgusting and shouldn't be allowed.

So if the Olympics were in USA I assume he wouldn't be able to secure a visa. I am sure the Olympic council could adopt an agreed list of criminal convictions that void entry.

Very disappointed to see a country in Europe allow a paedophile to represent them.

I hope the team and public have a say in this! He should be hanging his head in shame and keeping a low profile.

Really?! I’m gobsmacked by your reply!

Tied to a large lump of concrete!

Words fail me as to how a country would think this is a person to be celebrated / looked up to as a role model for aspiring young athletes!

There is currently a Change.org petition calling for his disqualification.
Please sign here
https://www.change.org/p/disqualify-convicted-child-rapist-steven-van-de-velde-from-the-olympics

This entire story is awful. Look at this article from 2017. He has no remorse and is massively arrogant.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-39292039.amp

This annoys me so much.
If you are in a country, you are subject to the laws of that country. If I travel on the Dutch trams without a ticket and get fined, I can't argue that the fine should be less because I'm British and the fine in London is less.

The Dutch (not all but a significant proportion) bitch and moan about foreigners not following Dutch culture, or traditions. (I mean, they do it a LOT.) But then simultaneously, the Dutch authorities and media genuinely believe its unreasonable to describe Van de Velde as a child rapist just because he was convicted as a rapist according to the laws of the country in which he raped a child. And went out of their way to undermine the UK judges decision. And then were really really smug about the fact they had done so (because Dutch system is more civilised). And then keep saying he served his time when the whole point is he didn't because of the Dutch authorities actions.

Sorry, I know it sounds like I hate the Dutch. I don't, I live in the Netherlands and I get on well with most people as individuals but this case has pissed me of so much. Because most people can't see the hypocrisy.

hmmmm Why Dutch teenager Noa's tragic death was misunderstood (bbc.com) They say it wasn't euthanasia which is technically true. But she was allowed to just die.

He only got 12 months?!

He is a sick individual.

He was sentenced for 4 years but only served one year. Does anyone know why that is?

I know offenders often get released half way during a sentence, but he hasn’t even served half of his sentence??

The whole criminal justice system in the UK - and worldwide no doubt - needs an overhaul. Why are sex offenders getting sentenced for only 4 years? And why is early release so common?

Violent and sex offenders shouldn’t get early release. Especially not a quarter way through their sentence.

How must that girl feel. It beggars belief really. Totally disgusting. He has ruined her life for sure and then she has to know this What an absolute disgrace. All those involved in this decision should be ashamed of themselves. I hope the games his taking part in are boycotted

Disgusting.

He was transferred to prison in the Netherlands where he was released after a year as they don't treat this as a criminal offence in the same way.

Where are you getting this information from?

This is what I’m seeing online on Wikipedia and news stories “ He was to serve four years in a British prison by the Aylesbury Crown Court.[9]
After serving a year of his four year sentence, he was released from prison and returned to the Netherlands.”

So from what I can see he only served one year in total and that was in the UK? He was released fully after that year and went back to Netherlands.

Edited to shorten the quote.

It was the Wikipedia entry before it was edited recently.

Ah okay - I think the updated version is correct. He just spent one year in total and it was in the UK - because it lines up with what I’ve read in various news report too.

I guess they updated it to correct the wrong info.

ETA: actually I’m not so sure now because on a bbc news article it says this :
He was allowed to return to the Netherlands to complete his sentence and has been released after a year. which I think is what you’re saying but then other news report suggest different.

Maybe he did serve one year here AND there 🤷🏾‍♀️I wish news media would be more accurate.

Although of course either way it’s a disgrace how little time he served.

I've signed the petition. It's annoying that the wording of the petition suggests he served the full 4 years, when clearly he didn't. (Though even if he'd served 10, it wouldn't change my view that no country should want or allow him to represent them as a sporting hero.

This is the most upsetting and disgusting thing I've read in a long time. Thank you for highlighting it Op. That poor little girl.