The criminal court in Walloon Brabant on Thursday sentenced a 60-year-old resident of Court-Saint-Étienne to four years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years on probation.
The man was charged with rape, violating the sexual integrity of minors and inciting minors to debauchery. The offences, committed against four victims, took place between 2001 and 2016.
The accused seduced some of his young pupils during Latin dance lessons. A demanding teacher, he put the girls in competition and when he had carnal relations with one of them, he asked her not to talk about it.
In its judgement, the court found that the defendant manipulated the young victims, establishing a moral constraint that precluded consent.
At the hearing, the dance teacher did not deny having had sexual relations with the four victims who filed civil lawsuits against him, and with some of his other pupils. He maintained, however, that they were sincere, loving relationships in which he had not forced any of them to do anything.
In its judgement, the court noted in particular the great age difference between the defendant and the civil parties, for whom the events began when they were aged 14 in one case, and 16 in the other three. The man always adopted the same behaviour, which constituted manipulation, to achieve his ends.
In determining the level of the sentence, the judgment took into account the seriousness of the acts, the manipulation the defendant used towards his pupils, the consequences for the victims and the almost total lack of self-questioning shown by the defendant.
The probationary suspension attached to the four-year prison sentence handed down on Thursday requires the defendant to undergo regular psychological counselling, and to follow a programme for sex offenders.
