The Criminal Court in the East Flemish town of Oudenaarde has sentenced a 40-year-old former nursery schoolteacher from Brakel (East Flanders) to 12 years’ imprisonment. The man was found guilty of having sexually abused and/or raped at least 16 boys aged between 2.5 and 5. He also filmed the abuse and published the sickening footage on the internet. The case is one of the biggest child sexual abuse cases in Belgium in recent years.
12-years for nursery schoolteacher that abused at least 16 boys aged between 2.5 and 5
Published:
The man, who was known to his pupils as “Meester Thijs”, abused at least 16 very young boys that he had in his charge as a care support teacher at the De Springplank nursery and primary school in the village of Onkerzele, near Geraardsbergen (East Flanders). He filmed the abuse and shared it with other paedophiles on the dark web.
Given the seriousness of the offences, the prosecutor’s office had requested a sentence of 20 years imprisonment and that following his prison sentence he be placed at the disposal of the court for a further 15 years, which would mean that he would also be monitored after his sentence. The prosecutor’s office also demanded that he be banned from teaching and from having contact with minors.
The court in Oudenaarde decided to give a 12-year prison sentence, followed by 15 years’ probation. He has also been banned from teaching, working in a position of trust with minors or having any contact with the civil parties in the case.
US investigation led to arrest in East Flanders
In 2024 police in the United States started an investigation after they had seen a video of child abuse being committed at a school.
They sent the video to Europol. A tattoo and the bright green wall of the room at the school where the abuse took place reported led to the identification and arrest of “Meester Thijs".
Even more victims?
During the investigation 16 victims were identified. At least 1 victim is now 20. He was 3 years old when he was abused in 2008. No evidence was found of abuse that might have taken place between 2008 and 2020. So, it is not clear what happened during this period.