In the first trial of its kind, the Netherlands has convicted a Dutch man for removing his condom during sex without his partner’s consent, an act referred to as “stealthing.”
“By his actions, the suspect forced the victim to tolerate having unprotected sex with him. In doing so, he restricted her personal freedom and abused the trust she had placed in him,” said the Dordrecht District Court, according to The Associated Press.
However, since the initial sex was consensual, the court acquitted the man of a rape charge.
This case is among a growing worldwide phenomenon. A court in Berlin convicting a police officer for sexual assault for secretly removing his condom during intercourse in 2018. He was sentenced to an eight-month suspension and was ordered to pay upward of 3,100 Euros to the victim. After an appeal, the suspended sentence was reduced to six months.
California also became the first U.S. state to outlaw “stealthing,” which makes it illegal to remove a condom without verbal consent. However, that didn’t change the criminal code, but instead amended it so a victim could sue the perpetrator for any damages, including, but not limited to, punitive ones.
As to the most recent case in Dordrecht, the 28-year-old Rotterdam native was given a three-month suspended prison term, which means he won’t have to serve the sentence unless he commits another crime. Additionally, he’s required to pay 1,000 Euros in damages.
