32 life sentences for child rapist
More than 800 sex crimes committed between 2011 and 2015
CONVICTED paedophile Warren Troy Knoop was yesterday sentenced to 32 life sentences and a further 117 years for more than 800 crimes that include child rape, exploitation, sexual assault and child pornography.
The East Rand car salesman was sentenced at the South Gauteng High Court. Judge Cassim Moosa said the accused had pleaded guilty to rape, which is a serious offence with a minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
Knoop committed the sexual offences between 2011 to 2015, in the east of Joburg and in Mpumalanga.
“Children are usually abused by those who believe they will get away with it, and they usually do,” Judge Moosa said. The mothers of two of the girls who were assaulted by Knoop were in the public gallery, as was Knoop’s brother.
The 40-year-old was caught after he used a chat website to distribute child pornography.
Homeland Security in the US notified South African authorities, who then located and identified him via the cellphone network account he was using.
On Friday, Knoop said that while in prison he had found God and had been rehabilitated.
He said he was sorry for what he had done.
However, Judge Moosa noted that there were aggravating circumstances which called for “deviation from the minimum prescribed sentences”.
“A sentence higher than the prescribed minimum would be appropriate,” he added.
Judge Moosa said a strong message needed to be sent to like-minded individuals that South African courts would condemn such actions.
Knoop was ordered to take part in anger management and sexual offender classes to assist with his rehabilitation.
The mother of the 12-year-old who was assaulted by Knoop said: “She’s receiving trauma counselling and is still having suicidal tendencies. His testimony was a joke.
“He was always saying I shouldn’t drink or smoke and dress a certain way.”
The 28-year-old mother of the second child said Knoop had hired a private investigator to monitor her phone messages and record her calls, as he thought she was cheating on him.
The accused was deprived access to his biological daughter after his wife found him viewing child pornography.
“There are numerous other children. We were the only mothers who were willing to come forward,” one of the women said.
The women said Knoop’s actions had come as a shock to them as he was “a gentleman, kind and a provider” when they were in a relationship with him.
National Prosecution Authority spokesperson Phindi Louw said: “We entered the (sentencing) plea with the view to (it having) a reasonable prospect. We are glad that the court has confirmed that the plea was just.”