Fmr Dutch politician convicted of grooming, cocaine possession

Former PVV politician Daniel van der Stoep, 37, was convicted on appeal of grooming and possession of cocaine. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and 3 months in prison, conditionally suspended, NU.nl reports. 

The court considered it proven that Van der Stoep tried to seduce three girls between the ages of 14 and 16 into having sex with him by sending them ambiguously worded messages, and offering them presents, money and cocaine. He also told the girls that they were not allowed to tell anyone about the contact they had with him. He was between 31 and 33 years old at the time. 

The case against Van der Stoep started when the father of one of the girls found the messages she exchanged with the former politician.

Van der Stoep claims that he had only friendly, and no sexual, intentions towards the girls. But the court did not believe this. The girls themselves also think that he wanted sex from them, though it never went that far. 

According to the court, Van der Stoep abused his position and status as a member of the European Parliament in his attempts to seduce the girls.