r/nottheonion • u/DerangedUnicorn27 • 4d ago

Convicted child rapist qualifies for Olympics

https://www.newsweek.com/steven-van-de-velde-dutch-beach-volleyball-olympics-1918442
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u/Lendyman 4d ago edited 4d ago

The guy knowingly went to England to have sex with a 12 year old. Knowingly. This wasn't even a "She told me she was 18" situation. He was 19 years old and deliborately traveled to another country to have sex with a 12 year old. A 12 year old he groomed online so he could do it.

I get people make mistakes but I guarantee that if you ask any average 19 year old in Netherlands if such an act is ok, they'd tell you no. He was a premeditated preditor.

I don't get how the Dutch volleyball Federation can just shrug their shoulders and act like it doesn't matter. Yes, it was 10 years ago and he did his time but do you really want this guy and what he represents to be the face of his country if his team wins a medal? Hell, even if they don't?

Blech. Sexual assault and rape should ALWAYS be a disqualifying factor. I don't care how long ago it was. If there isn't a rule, and apparently there isn't, there should be.

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u/ACoconutInLondon 4d ago edited 4d ago

He served a year. 1 year.

He was released in 2017 after serving one year in prison in the Netherlands.

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Edit to add:

Per other comments, it was only 1 year because it wasn't considered rape per Dutch law.

However, even in the UK where the crime was committed and where he was charged with rape against a child -

He still was only sentenced to 4 years, and would likely have only served half that, so 2 years.

Not much difference.

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u/who__ever 4d ago

At this point in time, the relevant thing to me is that this threat to society is representing his country in the Olympics.

He will be housed with athletes of all ages, and will have plenty of opportunities to repeat his crime. Now with full knowledge that this actions will bring no real consequences.

He should be banned from the Olympics. “No convicted sex offenders in the Olympics” is a pretty reasonable ask.

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u/ashoka_akira 3d ago

Yep, lots of sheltered young people are going to be at those games. One of my first experiences with having an older man approach with sexual intent me when I was 13 and was at the provincial games. I was travelling as a part of a team, so was away from home and family, and the parents who were supposed to be my teams chaperone were more interested in doing tourist things in the city we were in, so they let us use the shuttle bus system the games had in place and get ourselves around. I was so innocent (with 38C cups an early bloomer) and got really irritated by all the weirdo guys trying to chat me up on the bus, at the pool, etc. Luckily I was such an awkward dork and so oblivious to their attentions I turned down the invitations. I only accepted one 16 year old boys invitation to the wrap up dance they had, and had my first slow dance with him.

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u/who__ever 3d ago

Oh wow, having you share your personal experience makes it so more real - and scary.

I’m sorry there are so many creeps out there, and really glad that your experience was overall positive!

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u/rickrt1337 3d ago

Damn i know what he did is bad but you make him breivik bad