Football coach regrets convincing kids to make sexual videos

A 24-year-old football trainer, who is suspected of convincing his pupils to make sexually explicit photos and trying to arrange a meeting in order to rape them between 2021 and 2023, expressed his regret for his actions on Monday. “Today, I hope to show that I want to make a new start,” said Stijn P. in the court in Alkmaar.

The suspect trained football teams with children under 16 years of age in Haarlem and the IJmond region. He allegedly offered money and alcohol to the children for photos of their pubic area.

He also asked boys whether they wanted to meet up in Bentveld, Haarlem, and Beverwijk to either kiss them or masturbate him. He offered one of them a “kissing course” in exchange for Ajax tickets. P. also allegedly falsified a certificate of conduct (VOG) and used that to work at a school in Duivendrecht. He was fired from his position at the school.

The was held in a police cell for a short period of time and was released in December 2023. He was arrested again a year later because he had sent the falsified VOG to his employer. The case was heard in a public sitting for the first time on Monday.

“I have now been jailed for 100 days and have thought a lot about what I want and don’t want anymore,” P. said to the court. “Of course, I said stupid stuff to the victims,” he said. “I am open to any form of help. Please, help me.” He added that he wants to study in Amsterdam again and work in the catering industry.

His lawyer said: “The current detention period served its purpose.” She asked the court to give her client a chance to await his court case in freedom and to get his life back on track. “His life has been dedicated to this case for two years.”

If the court decides on Tuesday to keep the man in custody, the next hearing will be on June 11.