Dutch volleyball player who raped 12 year old British girl qualifies for Olympics

[NonCrimeHakeIncident]

https://uk.yahoo.com/sports/news/dutch-volleyball-player-raped-12-193257270.html

His lawyer at the time said “It’s plainly a career end for him”……..

This was posted at 9.26. It's now 9.43. I haven't commented since 9.26 because I honestly cannot find the words to express how horrifying this is.. I won't even try, but I want to at least put down a marker that this is beyond unacceptable.

Because he has served his sentence.

He got four years and served twelve months for multiply raping a 12 year old. Absolutely sickening. Also sickening that the Dutch volleyball organisation selected him.

Sentenced to 4 years for raping a child, did just 12 months of it inside, and the judge referred to his Olympic dream being over - which may have been factored into the short sentence.
That factor no longer exists, so it's now just 4 years for raping a child, and only 12 months served.

What a disgusting premeditated crime. Shame on everyone involved in getting him into the Olympics. Why aren't there procedures in place to make sure this was career ending? Not least the massive social-shame that should make people disassociate from him.

This Brock-Turner-esque privilege for sexual assault and rape related crime needs to end. Whether it's sports, music, or whatever, these vile men are somehow still lauded, and the messages it sends to both men and women is clear.

That is appalling. Simply shameful from everyone involved.

He doesn't like to be referred to as pedophile.

Thas what happens when you knowingly groom and sleep with a preteen girl. You are known as a pedophile.

Fuck.Ing.Hell.

Nothing about serving a sentence means that a country is compelled to consider the incident erased and that it's a good idea for a child rapist to represent their country.

I remember when Olympian athletes were people to be looked up to and admired, not known and convicted child rapists.

How?? Just how can anyone think this is ok?

Sentenced to 4 years and he served just 1 year. For raping a child aged 10. That’s justice, is it?

To me it says “Do what you like like, lads.” More importantly, that’s what it says to would-be rapists.

A quote from the rapist areswipe
I do want to correct all the nonsense that has been written about me when I was locked up. I did not read any of it, on purpose, but I understand that it was quite bad, that I have been branded as a sex monster, as a paedophile. That I am not, really not.
“Everyone can have their opinion about me, but it is only fair if they also know my side of the story”

He thinks he has a "side" to this "story"! I am so fucking angry. It's not a a "story" . He is a predatory groomer who raped a 12 year old child ffs.

And as for the Dutch Volleyball and Olympic associations who are proud to have him represent their country, and the team players who consent to play in a team with him, I have nothing but abject contempt. Let them look at their daughters, sisters, nieces and take just a second to consider the reality of what they support.

I've just read contemporaneous news reports, and I see that his self-pitying statement
"I have been branded as a sex monster, as a paedophile. That I am not, really not."
was made after he got out of prison early.
So the time - gosh, twelve whole months! - he served for raping a 12-year-old did absolutely nothing to 'rehabilitate' him, he came out as much of a self-pitying child rapist as he went in.

Which means he has freedom to go about his life, unlike his victim.
The Dutch sports authorities had the freedom to exclude a predatory child rapist from representing their country but chose to include him. Disgusting.

Just appalling as was that sentence. What does it say about this world that even his lawyer said it was career ending but the sporting authorities decided Nah, no biggie he can come back.

12 months for multiply raping a child? But he doesn't identify as a pedophile?

Wtf are the arrangements in the Olympic villages re safeguarding under 18s?

Having raped a child, I find it surprising a man would seek publicity.

'Having travelled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes to have sex with a girl he knew was just 12, Van de Velde was condemned in the strongest terms in 2016 by the judge at Aylesbury Crown Court. The court heard that he had gone to the home of the victim, with whom he had communicated on social networks before arranging to visit, while her mother was out and had taken her virginity raped her.'

Italics my edit.

His sentence will never be over.

This is beyond depressing. When will girls matter more than sport?

Its lucky (for him) its just over the border to France... would he be able to get a Visa if the Olympics had been in the US for example?

No one convicted of rape especially of a child should be allowed to be a professional athlete of any sport. Ever.

Yes it’s the fact his sentence was probably reduced because they thought it was sufficient punishment for him to have destroyed his promising career. Well that worked out well for him didn’t it? The Olympics is a sham now. An utter fucking sham.

I'm not surprised someone who committed a crime of this nature behaves with utter impunity and contempt for basic decency.

I am surprised the Dutch authorities have selected him, and that his teammates are prepared to play with him. Have they not anticipated the reaction, it's going to overshadow the presence of the whole delegation never mind this team??

I can't imagine any of his team mates being happy with this. I would feel shame just for standing next to him.
A lot of countries won't allow foreigners with serious criminals to even enter their country. Are the rules being bent because it's the olympics? I guess it's EU free movement, but I can't imagine the French would be at all happy with any publicity around this tarnishing their national pride over the Olympics.

Perhaps this is one of those rare occasions where writing a very disappointed letter/email might help. The French Embassy or Olympic social media might be stirred into the beaucratic panic officials have of bad publicity.
I know for the Rio Olympics they had to put in an enormous amount of effort into sanitising some problems with the venue, but that was known about in advance and planned for. This could well be one of those blips of negative publicity you have to squash before it becomes a big problem by moving quickly.