Prosecutors recommend 12-year prison term for Borculo sextortion and rape suspect

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has recommended a 12-year prison term combined with compulsory psychiatric detention for 32-year-old Mark S. of Borculo, accused of raping two women and carrying out widespread sexual blackmail by threatening to leak intimate images of girls and women. Addressing the court in Groningen on Wednesday, the prosecutor described him as “a completely remorseless, many-headed monster.”

The suspect used numerous aliases, which, according to the OM, he employed to manipulate and threaten his victims. A large number of the women targeted come from Gelderland, close to S.’s own community.

The suspect is accused of using anonymous accounts to lure girls and women into sharing nude photos, presenting himself under multiple fake identities as a supposed “helper in distress.” In 2012, his then-girlfriend reported him to the police for sextortion while they were still together.

Another victim was coerced into sexual acts with other men, her minor brothers, and an animal. For her, the abuse lasted five years. “She lived through a living hell due to the increasingly extreme sexual acts Mark demanded of her,” the prosecutor stated. “The impact of the defendant's actions has been immense, leaving deep scars.” He argued that the term “sextortion” was inadequate, instead describing the crimes as “sextorture” (sexual torture)."

S. was arrested in 2024 following a rape report by a victim from the province of Groningen. Investigations later revealed a total of 21 victims. Police also discovered the names of roughly 80 more girls on his laptops and phones, but not all have been traced.

S. used the funds obtained through financial sextortion to support his gambling habit. One victim is said to have paid him 35,000 euros through Tikkie transfers. Prosecutors are seeking to reclaim a total of 119,000 euros.

S. denies the gravest charges, including the rapes. His lawyer told the court that the rape cases lack supporting evidence, such as chat records, arguing that there was no penetration during the hotel meetings in Groningen and that the sexual encounter with a 19-year-old in Rotterdam was consensual.

The defense also sought acquittal in the case involving the girl allegedly coerced into sexual acts with other men, arguing that she was not forced. S. told the court that the accuser acted on her own initiative and that his actions were motivated solely by financial gain.