The Court of Appeal in Den Bosch sentenced former Budel GP Pieter S., 68, to one year in prison for sexually abusing a vulnerable patient between 2016 and 2019. The court found that he had exploited the woman, who has autism and a psychiatric history, and abused the trust placed in him as her doctor. It reduced the 15-month prison sentence imposed previously, while the prosecution had sought three years, including one year suspended.

The court said his acknowledgement of wrongdoing, remorse, lack of a criminal record and low risk of reoffending weighed in its decision. He may no longer practise or register as a doctor. The court increased the compensation he must pay the woman from €5,000 to €15,000. He had denied sexual abuse, but said he now recognised that he had crossed boundaries and that the relationship had not been equal.