Fines and prison in third trial for sexual harassment on the street

The court in Utrecht convicted three men of sexual harassment on the street and imposed fines on all three of them. One suspect indicated that he could not pay the fine, so the court sentenced him to two days in prison instead. This was the third trial for sexual harassment on the street, which became punishable in the Netherlands on July 1, NOS reports.

The first case involved a 46-year-old man from Amersfoort who sexually harassed two female enforcement officers during the early hours of July 7. The enforcement officers were taking care of a drunk man who was lying on the street while the Amersfoort man repeatedly shouted at them that he would “blow” them. He continued even after they detained him.

The enforcement officers stated that they found the man’s behavior offensive and humiliating. The court gave him a fine of 350 euros, of which 200 euros was conditionally suspended.

The second case involved a 50-year-old man from Utrecht who was stopped by a female enforcement officer on August 21 because he was using drugs. The man refused to identify himself and would only flirt with the enforcement officer. He made several sexual remarks and movements and grabbed his genitals.

The court initially wanted to fine this man, but he indicated that he could not pay it. The court, therefore, imposed a two-day prison sentence on him. He must also pay the enforcement officer he harassed 150 euros in damages.

The third case was against a 19-year-old man with no registered place of residence who sexually harassed and tried to kiss an 18-year-old woman on the train from Amsterdam to Utrecht. The court fined him 280 euros, but as his current whereabouts are unknown, it is questionable whether he will pay it.

This was the first trial against perpetrators of sexual harassment on the street. The first two cases appeared in court last week. The Rotterdam court fined a 33-year-old local 280 euros, of which 180 euros were conditional, for sexually harassing a woman on Scouwburgplein on August 9. He also sexually harassed the two undercover enforcement officers who noticed the harassment and intervened.

And in the Hague, the court sentenced a man to five days in custody for sexually harassing a minor girl in Lisse.