DutchNews.nl - Sex case swim teacher remanded in custody

Swimming teacher Benno L, who faces charges of molesting dozens of young girls, told a court in Amsterdam on Friday he is 'really ashamed' of what he has done.

Speaking during a routine court procedure, L said he been attracted to children since he was 25. 'I have fought against it all my life... I do not want to hurt anyone,' he was quoted as saying by the Volkskrant.

L, 59, was arrested in June after police found tens of thousands of photographs of a sexual nature on five computers, eight hard drives, 10 cameras and 16 memory chips at his home in Den Bosch.

The photos were made in and around the swimming pool where L gave swimming lessons, mainly to mentally-handicapped children. He ran his own swimming school and specialised in teaching children with learning difficulties or who were afraid of water to swim.

Originally, the public prosecution department said L had molested at least 98 girls, claims which his lawyer now say will make a fair trial impossible. So far 47 girls on the photographs have been identified, news agency ANP said on Friday.

It is unclear how many charges L will face when the case eventually comes to a full trial.

He is also suspected of raping a girl with Down syndrome. In a separate case, the father of that girl has begun a civil case for damages against L.

L is now referred to as 'the swimming pool monster', lawyer Pieter van der Kruis said. 'Does a monster stand a chance to get a fair trial?'

pedophiles should get life, "the children are the future" or is that just a song

By adhd | September 18, 2009 5:02 PM

Did the children get a fair chance from this person? He is a pedophile and regardless of what his defense says, he needs punishment. He is ashamed, but the children are scarred for life. I know, I was molested at a young age and the emotional pain, fear and stress doesn't go away. NO EXCUSE is enough; no "I'm sorry" or "I'm ashamed" makes this horrific crime go away.

By barbara | September 18, 2009 6:57 PM

"...police found tens of thousands of photographs of a sexual nature..."

What does "photos of a sexual nature mean"? Were all these tens of thousands of photos of young children? If so, how did he manage this herculean feat of clandestine photography?

What exactly has Benno L. "done" that he's ashamed of?

Has he confessed to the alleged rape? If so, why is his lawyer talking of a fair trial?

"Originally, the public prosecution department said L had molested at least 98 girls".

Perhaps - but that's not what was reported here. Here the report stated that he was suspected of taking revealing photos of nearly a hundred girls aged 6 to 16. Hardly the same as "molesting".

How the age distribution fell or how the 16-year olds were distinguished from 17-year olds remains unexplained, even now that 47 girls have supposedly been identified.

Now the picture taking has become molesting, the nearly 100 have become tens of thousands, and rape has been thrown in for good measure.

The story gets ever murkier.

By otropogo | September 20, 2009 6:20 AM