Man facing six years in prison for online sexual abuse of 33 underage girls

Six years in prison was recommended against a 34-year-old in the court in Zwolle on Tuesday for the online abuse of 33 underage girls. Suspect Daan F. contacted the victims via Snapchat and TikTok and manipulated them into making sexually explicit photos.

“You think your daughter is safe in her room, but then there is a man far away who has penetrated your home to damage her,” the prosecutor said. She emphasized that F., who is from Zwolle, abused hundreds of girls online.

Only 33 of these girls have been identified thus far. F. did not deny that the number could be correct. F. confessed to the crimes, but he denied having sexual intentions.

The prosecutor finds F.’s comments hard to believe. F. gave the girls specific instructions on what to do. He also specifically sought out young girls, and often also knew how old they were, according to the prosecutor.

Some girls sent the images because they were scared of F. The Public Prosecution Service thinks the man was only concerned with his own comfort and pleasure and never with the child behind it.

“You have ruined my daughter’s life,” one mother said during the hearing. "A girl who hasn't had a carefree childhood since she was ten. You took that away from her.

The father of one of the children, who pressed charges resulting in this case being initiated, spoke about the struggles that parents have with social media. He was monitoring the contacts that his then 10-year-old daughter was speaking to closely. “The ’14-year-old Daan’ that she was chatting with turned out to be one of the creeps that we had warned her for.”

F.’s lawyer emphasized that her client feels regret for his actions. “It was my responsibility, so the consequences of it are mine,” he said about a possible punishment.

The court will announce its verdict on April 29.