Jan Vanderweiden

A manipulative sex offender from the Castle Point district has been jailed for 15 years following his admission to abusing a child. Jan Vanderweiden, aged 60 and of no fixed address, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing on five counts of sexual activity with a child. The crimes, which involved sexual abuse of a young victim, were reported to Essex Police in 2022, prompting a complex two-year investigation.

The court heard details of Vanderweiden's offences, which demonstrated his manipulative behaviour towards the child. He pleaded guilty to all charges prior to the hearing. For the first count, he received a sentence of nine years' imprisonment, followed by five years on extended licence. The second count carried a consecutive six-year term, while the remaining three counts each resulted in five-year sentences to run concurrently with the others. In total, this amounted to a 15-year custodial sentence, with the extended licence period adding further supervision upon release.

In addition to the prison term, Vanderweiden was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to protect the public from future risks. A deprivation order was also imposed in respect of his mobile phone, which may have been used in connection with the offences. The sentencing judge highlighted the severity of the crimes during the hearing, describing the survivor as a 'remarkable woman' for her strength throughout the process.

The victim, now an adult, expressed profound gratitude to the authorities involved. In a statement released through Essex Police, 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.' She specifically thanked Detective Constable Georgina Stroud for her support over the past two years.

Detective Constable Georgina Stroud, who led the investigation, commended the victim's resilience. She stated: 'Vanderweiden is a manipulative sexual offender, and the sentence reflects this. The survivor has shown nothing but strength and resilience throughout this difficult process. 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.' This case underscores Essex Police's commitment to pursuing justice in child sexual abuse matters, with the force having assisted the victim extensively since the initial report in 2022.