Teacher & tennis pro suspected of sexually abusing his students faces 7 years in prison

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) recommended seven years in prison in the court in The Hague on Tuesday against 62-year-old Fred M. for the alleged sexually abuse of six underage girls over many years. M. was a teacher at a primary school in Pijnacker, and was also a tennis coach at various sports associations. He has been in custody for over ten months.

One of his tennis pupils was the first to file a criminal report against M. It took her time to gain the courage to do so after years of struggling with it. The victim said that M. abused her from when she was 11 to when she was 15 years of age.

M. has offered a partial confession in this case. He claims that the statements made by the other five suspects are not true.

During the hearing, two victims explained in detailed statements how deeply the abuse had an impact on their lives. Both dreamed of a tennis career, but it was cut short by their coach. "My lifelong dream was to become a top tennis player," said one of them. "It's gone."

The police found a large amount of child sexual abuse material in the suspect's home during a search, investigators claimed. According to the OM, he would start downloading material in the morning before going to work at a primary school. This would last until he got home, when he would see what material had been saved by his computer.

"The suspect had been downloading for at least 20 years," the prosecutor said when explaining her sentencing recommendation. Experts have diagnosed the man with a pedophilic disorder. In addition to the jail sentence, the OM is recommending a ban on working as a teacher or coach for 12 years, and a five-year ban on having any contact with the victims.

Publicity regarding the case led to violence against M. by fellow inmates at the detention building where he is being held. He has permanent eye damage due to the violence.

The court will announce its decision regarding the case on July 11.