JEREMY VAN DER SANDEN SHOCKS SWINDON WITH DECEPTIVE PAEDOPHILE PLOT AND FRAUDULENT ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS
In July 2022, Jeremy van der Sanden, a man residing in Swindon, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case that exposed his manipulative and deceptive behavior.The case revealed that van der Sanden, who was already known to authorities as a convicted paedophile, had engaged in a disturbing scheme by posing as a paediatric doctor online.
His actions involved creating a false identity to establish a relationship with an unsuspecting woman, a move that not only breached legal restrictions but also posed significant risks to public safety.
Van der Sanden was under a strict sexual harm prevention order at the time, which was designed to monitor his online activity and restrict his movements.
This order mandated that he inform police whenever he acquired a new device or changed his residence.
Despite these legal obligations, the Swindon Crown Court heard that he deliberately violated these conditions by using a different name online—an act that directly contravened his notification requirements.
The court proceedings, held on Friday, July 29, detailed how van der Sanden, of The Heights in Kingshill, had gone beyond simple deception.
He had also assumed a female identity on social media platforms, further complicating his manipulative tactics.
Judge James Townsend emphasized the gravity of van der Sanden’s actions, stating, “You worryingly posed as a paediatric doctor and entered into a relationship with an unsuspecting woman.” The judge highlighted the inherent dangers of such deception, noting, “That posed a clear risk, not only to her but also because you could have come into contact with children.” Furthermore, the court was informed that van der Sanden had effectively manipulated three women through his online personas, causing them significant emotional distress.
The judge pointed out that although the offences did not appear to be motivated by a desire to access children directly, the deception still posed a serious threat to public safety.
Judge Townsend also expressed concern about van der Sanden’s continued offending despite having a supportive family and intervention from probation services.
He remarked, “A troubling feature of this case is in spite of the fact you have a highly supportive family, and in spite of the fact there has been intervention by the probation service, you have continued to offend.” The judge further described van der Sanden as potentially being a fantasist, capable of manipulation and deception.
The court was also made aware that van der Sanden, aged 27, had previously been subject to a community order for possession of indecent images of children classified as Class A.
During the current proceedings, he pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, including failing to notify police of his address and new laptop, using an undisclosed name, and staying at a particular address for more than seven days within a year without reporting it.
In sentencing, Judge Townsend imposed a total of 19 months imprisonment, which was to be served immediately.
The community order previously in place was revoked, and van der Sanden was also subjected to a new sexual harm prevention order, which will remain in effect until May 2032, under the same restrictive terms.
This case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offences and the importance of vigilant monitoring and legal enforcement to protect the community in Swindon.
