Valkenburg teacher sentenced to 5 years for raping former pupil multiple times

A former primary school teacher was sentenced to five years in prison for repeatedly raping a student between the ages of 9 and 12. The court also ordered him to pay nearly 60,000 euros in damages for therapy and educational delays caused by the abuse. The teacher, 57, was dismissed from the school in 2018 for unrelated reasons.

The assaults occurred at school, a swimming pool, and a theme park. The victim reported the abuse years later, and the court deemed her testimony credible, noting it was detailed, consistent, and corroborated by therapy records.

Evidence presented included witness accounts of behavioral changes during the abuse period from 2015 to 2018, a message to a classmate describing inappropriate touching, and emails to the victim’s father. The teacher admitted to close contact with the girl, including extensive online chats and once sleeping in her room.

The court described the abuse, often in public locations, as “shocking” and noted the teacher also possessed and distributed animal pornography. Other former students reported similar online contact. The teacher now has 14 days to appeal the sentence.