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Former pro and coach Dennis van Scheppingen was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting his former students, both brothers, on Wednesday (November 5). The Amsterdam court found him guilty of rape, sexual assault, and indecent acts with a minor, which occurred between 2009 and 2012.
The incident first came to light in 2022, when one of the victims filed a complaint. This led to van Scheppingen's arrest. The authorities got in contact with the other brother based on this information, and he confessed to being assaulted as well.
Van Scheppingen turned pro in the 1990s and retired in 2008. He peaked at No. 72 in the rankings in 2004, although his career-best result came at the Australian Open 1997, when he made the third round. He turned to coaching after his retirement, and that was how he met the victims.
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The older brother moved in with van Scheppingen due to a tense family situation at home in 2009. He took advantage of his position over his ward and assaulted him during training sessions and at foreign tournaments. A few years later, he also began coaching the victim's younger brother, repeating the pattern of abuse.
Furthermore, van Scheppingen abused the younger victim while he was still a minor. Following the initial reports by the victims in 2022, a case was built against him, and he has now been sentenced to prison for his crimes.
Dennis van Scheppingen will serve 3.5 years in prison for his crimes
The prosecution demanded a four-year prison sentence for Dennis van Scheppingen. However, the court awarded him a three-and-a-half-year prison term, which includes 10 months of suspended sentence. The court reiterated the fact that he misused his authority for his own selfish needs.
"The court is seriously charging you with the fact that you have taken advantage of your position as a tennis coach. The victims looked up to you because you were a very successful tennis player in the past. The victims had the feeling that rejecting his sexual advances would have far-reaching, if not disastrous, consequences for the course and outcome of their tennis career and the funding of them," the presiding judge said.
Aside from his prison sentence, van Scheppingen is also barred from any professional activities related to tennis for eight years. The Dutch Tennis Federation also imposed a disciplinary measure against him, rescinding his access to their facilities.
