A vile, “manipulative” sex abuser, Jan Vanderwieden, has been locked up for 15 years for his sickening abuse of a girl. Jan Vanderwieden abused the victim when she was a child, and she has now been praised for her “remarkable” bravery.
The survivor, who reported the offences to Essex Police in 2022, thanked officers who “helped and assisted with the case” and “have been nothing but supportive over the past two years”. She also urged anyone who has experienced sexual assault to trust the police and report offences to them.
She said: “I would like to say to anybody out there who sadly may be experiencing or experienced a similar thing to please trust our police and all the services they provide; I can hand on heart say they did everything to get me the justice I deserved.
“I am finally able to put this part of my life behind me, though it will be with me forever I can now look forward and create an amazing life for me and the people I care about the most.”
On Thursday November 28, Jan Vanderwieden, of no fixed address in the Castle Point district, appeared at Basildon Crown Court to be sentenced in connection with five counts of sexual activity with a child over a four-year period. Jan Vanderwieden was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years on extended licence.
He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a deprivation order was made in respect of his mobile phone. Following the complex two-year investigation Det Con Georgina Stroud said: “Jan Vanderwieden is a manipulative sexual offender, and the sentence reflects this.
“The survivor has shown nothing but strength and resilience throughout this difficult process. As the judge correctly mentioned in her sentencing summary, the survivor is a remarkable woman. I hope the survivor’s words encourage others to come forward. We will listen to you and do what we can to ensure you receive the justice you deserve.”
The survivor paid specific tribute to Det Con Stroud: “I am forever grateful to you all at Essex Police, especially Georgina Stroud, you have been nothing but supportive for the last two years.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.