A man who committed 15 sexual offences against a child – including two counts of rape of a girl under 13 – has been jailed for 12 years and nine months.
Dennis Gartsen, of Hobhole Bank, New Leake, Boston, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday 18 August, for charges relating to his young victim.
The 42-year-old was also given an additional four-year period to be served on licence and is now the subject of a stringent sexual harm prevention order on his release.
Gartsen pleaded guilty to the following 15 charges:
- Two counts of rape of a girl under 13.
- Two counts of assault of a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of his body.
- Six counts of assault of a girl under 13 by touching.
- Possession of a prohibited image of a child.
- Three counts of making of an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.
- Possession of extreme pornographic images / images portraying an act likely to result in serious injury to a person’s private parts.
A further two charges of rape of a girl under 13 were ordered to lie on file.
An application for his deportation back to his native Netherlands has also been submitted – a process which is reviewed and undertaken by the Home Office.
The court heard how Gartsen had handed himself in at Boston Police Station on 23 August 2023, advising officers that he had sexually assaulted a child. It was reported that he did so after being confronted by the adults to whom his victim had disclosed the acts, which are reported to have taken place on multiple occasions between December 2021 and August 2023.
A search of devices found at his home address revealed him to be in possession of multiple examples of disturbing pornographic material.
He pleaded guilty to 15 charges at a hearing held on 28 April, where he was remanded to prison to await sentencing.
Specialist officers worked sensitively and meticulously with Gartsen’s courageous young victim and family over the weeks, months, and years following the initial disclosure in August of 2023 to progress this case through the courts to secure today’s sentence.
Detective Constable Sarah Oliver from the Protecting Vulnerable People unit in Boston, said: “Gartsen carried out deeply disturbing crimes on a particularly young victim. His actions are utterly inexcusable – the child he targeted for his own depraved gratification was so vulnerable. The victim’s family have been completely devastated by his sickening actions, yet throughout this testing process, the child and her family have demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience.”
We hope this ruling offers some measure of conclusion after what can only be described as a most horrific and unimaginable chapter of their lives. While nothing can erase the distress and unquestionable psychological impact, may this serve as a step toward healing.
If you or anyone you know has been the victim of rape or sexual assault or any other sexual offence, please report it to us as soon as possible.
