MAASTRICHT - The public prosecutor in Maastricht yesterday demanded 240 hours of community service and one year of suspended imprisonment (probation period five years) from Paul F. (51) from Brunssum, who is suspected of lewdness.Prosecutor Wim Smits also asked the court to impose a contact and location ban on the man for places where underage girls may be present. This case, which has been in play since late 2005, was heard yesterday in Maastricht by judges of the Roermond District Court. This because a clerk of the Maastricht court in a
earlier stage had forgotten to elaborate minutes of hearings in this case. A total of two criminal cases were involved. The clerk involved was suspended.

Paul F. confessed that as a swimming teacher in Schinnen he was guilty of sexual abuse with underage pupils on several occasions. He also admitted to lewdly groping two nieces during several sleepovers. "Why I did that, I can't explain. There was booze involved. Maybe I was looking for attention and affection."

Psychiatric examination revealed that while Paul F. is not a "classic pedophile," he is aroused by young girls. He also suffers from a depressive disorder and, following the sudden death of his daughter several years ago, has not done adequate grief counseling. F.'s statement to police that he had committed the abuse "unconsciously," the judge wanted clarification from him on that.

The constantly head-shaking Brunssummer could not give an explanation for this either. Prosecutor Smits called F.'s actions "highly culpable behavior. "The young victims were not mentally up to the advances of the suspect. The location ban should include playgrounds, school grounds and swimming pools."

Serge Weening, attorney for Paul F., concurred with the demand, but felt that the restraining order and location order "should be further concretized. "After all, my client needs to know exactly where he stands," he said. Verdict in two weeks.

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