Football coach jailed for secretly filming over 500 boys in changing rooms

A district-court in Middelburg has sentenced a 40-year-old football coach from Vlissingen to five years in prison after finding him guilty of secretly filming more than 500 underage boys in changing rooms at multiple football clubs over several years. The court also ruled that he committed indecent acts involving a minor boy.

Working as a youth coach across multiple football clubs, the man secretly filmed and photographed boys aged 10 to 14 in changing rooms and showers over a 15-year period. According to the court, he used a specialized app that concealed the recording process by keeping his phone screen black.

“A football club should be a safe and trusted environment where young players can enjoy themselves, but the defendant seriously damaged that,” the court said in its ruling. “He abused his position, role, and responsibility to satisfy his own sexual desires. This has had a major impact on the victims and the families involved.”

A large volume of child sexual abuse material was also discovered on the defendant’s mobile devices. The court noted that he suffers from a paedophilic disorder, which he says he has been aware of since the age of 16. However, it found that he did not seek professional help and deliberately exposed himself to situations involving risk.

The defendant was employed as a primary school teacher. In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed a ten-year ban on working in the profession.