Ex cop gets one year in prison for sex with 13-year-old girl

A former police officer from Schinnen was sentenced to one year in prison, half of which conditionally suspended, for sex with a 13-year-old girl. The Public Prosecutor demanded 30 months in prison, three of which conditionally suspended, against the man, NOS reports.

The 49-year-old man met the girl at a youth club in Schinnen. There he became something of a confidant to her. Their relationship developed into a sexual relationship, which lasted several months. 

The girl stated that the man did not force her, and that can also be seen in messages she sent him. But the man was still convicted because having sex with an underage child is illegal. According to the court, the man - both as an adult and as a former police officer - should have taken responsibility and should have known what he was doing was wrong.

A behavioral expert assessed the man and concluded that he is not a pedophile and also has no other sexual disorders. He does suffer from post-traumatic stress disordered, which he sustained during his work as police officer.

The court imposed a lower sentence than the Prosecutor demanded partly because the man had no criminal record, regrets what he did and knows that he should not have done it. As the man already wore an ankle monitor for several months, part of his sentence was conditionally suspended. The former cop must also pay over 5 thousand euros in compensation and is not allowed to have contact with the girl for two years.