Suspect wanted for attacking women cyclists was convicted of rape; More photos released
The man who is wanted for pulling people off their bicycles in Utrecht has a prior conviction for rape. Michael van H. was sentenced to three years in prison and mandatory treatment in a psychiatric facility for the crime in Dordrecht in 2015. Police have now released images of the car, a Kia Stonic, that Van H. was driving during the recent incidents.
Van H. was 27 years of age when he raped a woman in the Overkamppark. He had spoken to the woman on the Transvaalstraat while driving a scooter before giving her a ride to the park, where he raped her while threatening her with a knife, Rijnmond reported. Van H. had filmed the rape with his phone.
It was reported on Friday by the police that one of the victims of the man's recent attacks was a 19-year-old woman. She was cycling on Weg tot de Wetenschap near Utrecht University when a car approached her under the A27 viaduct. The car stopped, Van H. got out and violently grabbed her and pulled her from her bicycle. She managed to get away. The police are investigating and are looking for camera footage from the area and witnesses, police said hours later. A police spokesperson said that a similar incident had happened days earlier, but he could not provide any information regarding it.
The police have said that Van H. could be anywhere in the Netherlands and neighboring countries. They asked anybody with any information about the man to report it to the police.
Images of Van H.'s car were released on Friday. It is a white Kia Stonic with a green roof and a license plate reading H-445-KZ. The vehicle has stickers from a pharmacy delivery service, but this organization has nothing to do with the case, police said.
Representatives for the Midden-Nederland police told several media outlets that the vehicle was not reported as stolen. The suspect had permission to use the vehicle in connection with his work.
