The Hasselt Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced a 28-year-old man from Limburg to three years' imprisonment for raping his ex-girlfriend and stripped him of his civic rights for five years.
On the night of 14 January, the accused went to his former girlfriend's home in the company of two friends, brothers aged 24 and 26 respectively. Hearing them outside her door and seeing them on CCTV footage, the victim called the police.
The young woman had already had problems with her ex-partner, which was why she had installed the camera. One of the two brothers managed to break into the victim's home through the front door, after which the accused raped her. The other brother was trapped in the car by the child lock.
The 24-year-old man who forced the door open was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. His elder brother was given a suspended sentence, while the rapist was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
The judge emphasised that at no time had the accused considered the traumatic impact of his actions on his ex-girlfriend. "Such misconduct indicates not only a blurred perception of sexual norms, but also deviant sexual behaviour," the judge said.
The judge expressed dissatisfaction at the defendant's absence from the trial. He also criticised the police, who had not mentioned sexual assault in their initial report, but had only referred to breaking and entry, and assault.
Proceedings for damages for the harm suffered will begin on 20 November before a civil court.
