Child rapist Steven van de Velde banished from Olympic village

A child rapist has been banished from the Paris Olympics athletes’ village amid outrage over his inclusion at the Games.

Steven Van de Velde of Team Netherlands. Picture: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Dutch child rapist Steven van de Velde has been banished from the Paris Olympics athletes’ village amid outrage over his inclusion at the Games.

The Dutch Olympic committee has told the world the volleyball star has shown “self-insight and reflection” despite keeping him away from the other athletes and media at the Games.

Van de Velde, now 29, has faced heavy criticism for his inclusion at the event after he groomed a 12-year-old British girl online before raping her a decade ago.

Fans and human rights groups have labelled the move a “shameful appointment” to allow him to compete.

As 81,000 people signed a damming petition calling for all known sex offenders to be banned from the Olympics indefinitely.

Even the International Olympic Committee has sought to distance themselves from the controversial athlete.

Seemingly referencing the Dutchman, they said: “The nomination of individual team members, following qualification on the field of play, is the sole responsibility of each respective National Olympic Committee.”

Steven Van de Velde. Picture: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The fierce debate has been reignited this week after it was revealed that Van de Velde is set to stay in private accommodation away from his fellow athletes - including teammates.

The Dutch Olympic Committee made the call due to serious concerns over his safety, The Athletic reports.

When he arrived in Paris by train he was flagged by a huge security team as they walked him to his alternative hotel room in the capital.

He has also been warned to avoid any media during his stay as the committee fear reporters will probe him on the former convictions.

A spokesman for the Dutch committee said on Thursday: “We are implementing concrete measures to ensure a safe sporting environment for all participants.

“These measures include, at the request of van De Velde, alternative accommodation for van De Velde and no media contact during his stay in Paris.”

It claimed all the measures were in line with “standard practice” seen in major sporting events.

They were reportedly made after a “thorough risk assessment”.

The committee claim van de Velde has consistently met their high standards, fully engaged with their requirements to compete and remained transparent throughout the last 10 years.

In a statement they also said he “deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved”.

Dutch media has described the decision to put the 6ft 6in volleyball ace in separate accommodation as “sad”.

Torchbearers pose for group photos during the Olympic Village torch relay in the Olympic Village. Picture: Jia Haocheng - Pool/Getty Images

Head of sport at Dutch newspaper Trouw, John Graat said in a controversial column: “Steven van de Velde will be sitting alone in a hotel somewhere in Paris from next week, like an outcast who has been rejected by the Olympic ‘family’. I think it’s sad.”

He called on the world to give van de Velde a second chance.

Other reports have blamed foreign media, especially in the UK and Australia, for increasing pressure over his inclusion.

Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in the UK in 2016 following the rape of a 12-year-old girl two years earlier when he was 19.

He was said to have flown from his native Netherlands to the UK to meet the victim after grooming her on Facebook in 2014.

The girl told her family she was staying with a friend and snuck out to meet with the sports star at a hotel.

When they couldn’t make a booking, they later returned to the victim’s empty home where they had sex.

Judge Francis Sheridan said to him at the time: “Prior to coming to this country you were training as a potential Olympian.

“Your hopes of representing your country now lie as a shattered dream.”

Linda Strudwick, Van de Velde’s own defence lawyer, said of the verdict at Aylesbury Crown Court: “The headlines say it all: ‘A sex monster.’

van de Velde of the Netherlands looks on during a Beach Volleyball training session. Picture Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

He served part of his sentence in the UK before being transferred to his native Netherlands where his term was adjusted to the norms of Dutch law.

After just one year he was released and went back to playing beach volleyball straight away.

In a previous interview, van de Velde spoke of his guilt, saying: “I can’t reverse it, so will have to bear the consequences. It has been the biggest mistake of my life.”

He has always denied the label of him being a paedophile despite the court’s ruling and his own acceptance of the facts.

His comments were slammed by the National Society for Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

A spokesman said: “Van de Velde’s lack of remorse and self-pity is breathtaking, and we can only begin to imagine how distressed his victim must feel if she sees his comments.

“Grooming can leave a child feeling ashamed or even guilty, because they believe they have somehow willingly participated when, in fact, an adult has preyed upon them in order to sexually exploit them.”

The 29-year-old is now married and a father.

Thins story originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission