Monday, 6 October 2014 - 16:36
Suspected swim school pedophile loses court fight
The court in The Hague determined on Monday that pedophile Benno L. must keep wearing the ankle strap which reads out his location and movements.
The swimming teacher was sentenced to six years in prison for abusing dozens of girls during swim lessons he gave. Many of his victims had mental disabilities.
His area ban on the residences of his victims remains in force. According to the judge in can not be relied upon that Benno L. will comply with his commitment not to enter the forbidden area.
Through technical limitation of the electronic surveillance a location prohibition was also imposed on the pedophile in some areas outside the cities where his victims live. The judge found this unjust. The court has also forbidden the reading of data from the electronic surveillance in Leiden (L's residence), because this is not a condition that the Public Prosecutor imposed.
The prohibition on contact in Leiden will also be adjusted. The judge find the prohibition to speak to minors justified. "The ban, however, is carelessly worded. For example, it should not stand in L's way to buy something in a store. Therefore it must be formulated again."
L. asked the court in The Hague for permission to seek work and a home in Germany. He also wants a deposit of 10 thousand euros for the extra costs his restrictions after his release has incurred. He also wants money as compensation for "joy of living" of which he has been deprived by disproportionate restrictions.
The judge rejected all of these requests.