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A Dutch seashore volleyball participant who raped a 12-year-old British lady has certified for subsequent month’s Paris Olympics, regardless of being advised by a choose that his hopes of representing the Netherlands was a “shattered dream”.
Steven van de Velde was sentenced in March 2016 to 4 years in jail after admitting three counts of rape in opposition to a baby he had met on Fb. He had flown from the Netherlands to the UK in August 2014, when he was 19, to fulfill his sufferer.
Choose Francis Sheridan advised him: “Previous to coming to this nation you had been coaching as a possible Olympian. Your hopes of representing your nation now lie as a shattered dream.”
Besides Van de Velde, who was launched after serving simply 12 months at a Dutch jail, has since been allowed to rehabilitate his Olympic profession, this month sealing his spot within the nationwide pair on the Paris Video games alongside Matthew Immers.
On sentencing at Aylesbury Crown Court docket after being extradited from his homeland, his personal defence lawyer, Linda Strudwick, mentioned of the decision: “The headlines say all of it: ‘A intercourse monster.’ It’s plainly a profession finish for him.”
It has proved something however, with Van de Velde, now 29, re-establishing his credentials in seashore volleyball to such an extent that he and Immer are the Eleventh-ranked group on this planet heading to Paris subsequent month.
Van de Velde’s comeback presents a significant ethical conundrum for the Worldwide Olympic Committee. Each Paris Olympian is required to signal an Athletes’ Rights and Duties Declaration, with level seven demanding: “Act as a task mannequin.”
Having travelled from Amsterdam to Milton Keynes to have intercourse with a woman he knew was simply 12, Van de Velde was condemned within the strongest phrases in 2016 by the choose at Aylesbury Crown Court docket. The court docket heard that he had gone to the house of the sufferer, with whom he had communicated on social networks earlier than arranging to go to, whereas her mom was out and had taken her virginity.
“Your actions have wrecked your life and you would, had you by no means come to England and dedicated these offences, have been a frontrunner in your sport,” Choose Sheridan mentioned. “A younger, naive, silly little one had fashioned the view that you simply cherished her. In actuality, you solely knew her on the web, had by no means met her earlier than and had been absolutely conscious of the age distinction.”
Upon his launch in 2017 after solely 1 / 4 of his sentence, Van de Velde, who had wept in court docket on listening to concerning the lady’s subsequent self-harm and overdose, mentioned: “I do need to appropriate all of the nonsense that has been written about me once I was locked up. I didn’t learn any of it, on objective, however I perceive that it was fairly dangerous, that I’ve been branded as a intercourse monster, as a paedophile. That I’m not, actually not.
“Everybody can have their opinion about me, however it’s only truthful if in addition they know my facet of the story.”
These remarks drew a withering response from the Nationwide Society for Safety of Cruelty to Kids, who mentioned: “Van de Velde’s lack of regret and self-pity is breathtaking, and we are able to solely start to think about how distressed his sufferer should really feel if she sees his feedback.
“Grooming can depart a baby feeling ashamed and even responsible, as a result of they consider they’ve in some way willingly participated when, in reality, an grownup has preyed upon them with the intention to sexually exploit them.”
The Dutch Olympic committee have but to touch upon Van de Velde’s qualification for Paris, with The Australian reporting that the nation’s volleyball federation are nonetheless to ratify their ultimate athlete choices. The IOC has been contacted for a response.
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