Well-known Limburg TikTokker “Glen Van Ranst”, who had amassed an online following of around 66,000 followers on the application, has been arrested in connection with forcing four underage teenage girls into prostitution, according to Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg.
On 21 September, details emerged about the case levelled against the online influence. The suspect, had recently been in prison on suspicion of serious offences involving sexual offences with minors.
According to prosecutors, Glen is reported to have contacted young girls, manipulated them, and subsequently driven them into having sex with older men for money. The suspect is now facing charges of rape, human trafficking, and incitement to prostitution. Two of the victims were reported to have only recently come of age.
It is unclear whether the suspect intends to pledge guilty to the charges, however the investigating judge has already placed Glen under arrest.
Related News
- Underage Afghan boys ending up in prostitution in Belgium via TikTok
- Influencer children and parents increasingly used in advertising campaigns
The online influencer already had an extensive criminal history. The 29-year-old had previously been convicted of dealing hard drugs, notably cannabis, amphetamine, and GHB, for which he served a 12-month prison sentence. The TikTokker was also previously convicted of beating up and robbing a pub-goer who had won money on a slot machine.
“My youth didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to, but I’m glad I ended up well,” Glen had said in one of his previous vlogs.
With these latest criminal charges, it would seem that the career of the online influencer is definitely over. All his social media channels, except TikTok, have since been shut down.