A Belgian man has been sentenced to a decade in prison after being convicted of drugging and raping three of his former partners in a disturbing case that also involved the secret recording of over 100,000 intimate images. The 61-year-old defendant, identified locally as Jan M., was found guilty by an Antwerp court following an investigation that uncovered his extensive collection of non-consensual photographs and videos taken over a 25-year period.
Discovery of Hidden Camera Leads to Arrest
The case came to light in March 2025 when Jan M.'s 17-year-old stepdaughter discovered a concealed camera hidden in a bathroom cupboard. The teenager immediately informed her mother, who had been in a relationship with the defendant for approximately ten years, and they reported the incident to police authorities. This discovery triggered a comprehensive investigation that would reveal the full extent of Jan M.'s criminal activities spanning decades.
Massive Collection of Secret Images Uncovered
Following a thorough search of his residence, investigators discovered approximately 100,000 nude images stored on Jan M.'s computer and mobile devices. The collection included photographs of his ex-partners, his underage stepdaughter, and even her friend, all captured without their knowledge or consent. During initial questioning, Jan M. claimed he had only used cameras to record his partner because he suspected her of infidelity, and insisted he had "immediately deleted" images of his stepdaughter.
However, the evidence told a different story. Investigators also uncovered videos showing Jan M. engaging in sexual relations with his partners, leading them to suspect the victims had been drugged during these encounters. The court ultimately found him guilty of administering substances with sedative effects to facilitate sexual assaults against three former partners.
Judge Cites Disturbing Evidence in Sentencing
When sentencing Jan M. to ten years imprisonment, the presiding judge highlighted compelling evidence from the defendant's browsing history. "His browsing history speaks volumes," the judge stated. "It reveals that the accused was interested in incestuous, forced, and violent sexual relations, for which he sought drugs with a sedative effect." The defendant, originally from the Antwerp suburb of Brasschaat and formerly an executive at a Japanese company, showed no remorse during the proceedings.
Comparisons to Notorious French Case
Walter Damen, the legal representative for the victims, drew immediate parallels between Jan M.'s crimes and the notorious case of Dominique Pelicot in France. Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife Gisele for nearly a decade and inviting dozens of men to rape her while she was unconscious. He received a 20-year prison sentence last year, the maximum possible penalty, after being found guilty on all charges.
The Pelicot case gained international attention when Gisele opposed defense requests for closed hearings, with her courage inspiring campaigners against sexual and sexist violence. The trial prompted a national reckoning over rape culture in France, particularly after stomach-churning homemade videos of rapes and assaults filmed in the couple's Provence home were presented as evidence. All fifty of Pelicot's co-defendants were also convicted on various charges related to the case.
Jan M.'s conviction represents another serious case of sexual violence that involved systematic deception, hidden surveillance, and chemical submission of victims over an extended period. The ten-year sentence reflects the gravity of his offenses against multiple victims, including a minor, though it falls short of the maximum penalty imposed in the comparable French case.
