Music teacher (83) sentenced for sexual assault of woman with Down syndrome in care facility
An 83-year-old music teacher has been sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with probation after sexually assaulting a woman with Down syndrome in a care facility. He claimed he was trying to do her a favour.
Music teacher (83) sentenced for sexual assault of woman with Down syndrome in care facility
An 83-year-old man who gave music lessons as a volunteer in a care facility has been sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with probation. He had approached a woman with Down syndrome in a sexual manner there. The incidents date from 22 January last year.
On that day, a carer alerted her colleagues after the victim reported that the music teacher had touched her. The woman gave a detailed account: the man allegedly groped her breasts, took her to the toilet and touched her genital area and nipples there. He also allegedly asked her to touch his genitals.
When police confronted him with this, the man immediately confessed. "I knew this would come out," he responded. According to his account, however, he did not do it for his own pleasure, but for hers. "I wanted to do her a favour," he said. During his interrogation, he read out an apology letter in which he acknowledged kissing and touching her at least three times. At the same time, he claimed that she had seduced him and provoked him.
His solicitor argued that the woman behaved "very enthusiastically" and that his client did not respond appropriately. According to the defence counsel, there was no question of sexual desire, since the man had allegedly been impotent for years.
The prosecution requested two years' imprisonment with probation, forfeiture of rights, and a professional ban from working in facilities for vulnerable persons. The judge ultimately imposed eighteen months with probation. The convicted man is barred from holding public office for five years, has a ten-year contact ban with the victim, and is also prohibited from working as a volunteer in facilities housing vulnerable people for ten years. In addition, he must pay €3,170 in damages.
Source: Het Nieuwsblad
Source: Nieuwsblad