Elderly man stalks 13-year-old

5 June 2007

BRAKEL – Ernest D.G., an 84-year-old man from Brakel, was called to appear in court in Oudenaarde on charges of stalking a 13-year-old girl in his neighbourhood over the course of 12 months last year.

D.G. was trying to start a relationship with the girl. He harassed not only the child, but her parents as well. “It was a terrible time for our family,” says the mother, who is filing for damages.

The elderly man failed to appear in court. Lawyer Steve Dupont described the circumstances suffered by the family: “It was a normal neighbourly relationship that escalated into stalking. The defendant wanted a relationship with the 13-year-old girl. He sent notes to her and even tried to visit the home. This family was terrorised for a year, to the extent that the children were frightened to leave the house. All the doors of the home were kept dead-bolted shut.”

D.G. was sentenced in absentia to a prison sentence of nine months and a fine of EUR 550. “The court is very concerned about the incident, primarily because the defendant does not realise that his behaviour is unacceptable,” judge Nadia Goossens explained in the verdict.

Subject: Belgian news