An East Rand car salesman has been sentenced to 32 life terms plus an additional 170 years in jail for rape, sexual grooming and manufacturing child pornography.
Judge Cassim Moosa sentenced Warren Troy Knoop in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
He convicted Knoop who pleaded guilty to 870 charges.
Knoop’s victims included three young girls, with first victim being in 2011.
The court heard that the child was a year old when Knoop first fondled her and he reportedly stopped raping when she began talking too much.
In welcoming Monday’s sentence, the lobby group, Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) said the only pity was that the sentencing did not run consecutively.
"As an organisation we are very happy with these sentences, but would want to make sure that he never ever gets out of jail,” said WMACA’s Miranda Friedman, who described Knoop as a “monster.”
“There must be NO parole ever granted to him. By law he can apply after 25 years, but will need approval from the victims and their families, and that will never happen" Friedmann said.
Meanwhile, the investigators who help put Knoop behind bars are celebrating.
"As officers working at the Gauteng Provincial FCS Serial Electronic Crime Investigation Unit I as the commander am so proud of the best of the best group of people in this field of investigation. It is a huge relief that one of the worst predators in South Africa is going to spend several years behind bars," said Lieutenant-Colonel Heila Niemand.
She said he won't be able to ruin and destroy another child's life!!
"Hard and dedicated work paid off and a sentence like what was handed down today is and inspiration for our team, to do more and to keep fighting together. Without International cooperation and working as a team with International law enforcement agencies and NGO's like Women & Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA), none of this would be possible," she said.
"Together we are tracking down these paedophiles and sex offenders and rescuing our vulnerable children!!! Thank you" - Lt Col Heila Niemand
