Latest news with #NorthHolland
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Serial horse rapist', 38, filmed himself having sex with pregnant Shetland pony, court hears
A 'serial horse rapist' has admitted to sexually abusing a pregnant Shetland pony eight times after a neighbour caught him in the act in CCTV footage. Ricardo van Z., 38, from De Kwakel, North Holland, appeared in court in Amsterdam on Wednesday after having sexual intercourse with the pony and filming the ordeals in a pasture in Amstelveen. He is also accused of abusing his dog and possessing child pornography. Van Z. is said to have committed the heinous acts on the pony in September and October of last year, with the most recent incident occurring in April of this year. Local media reports that he often visited the black mare, named Ona, during the night in a meadow on Amsteldijk Zuid. She is said to have been several months pregnant at the time of the abuse. The animal's owner had seen on horrific CCTV footage, Van Z. climbing over the fence and leading the pony to a shelter. The owner claimed the man used rope to tie up the Shetland during the vile sexual assaults, and Van Z testified in court he had used baby oil on the animal's genital area. Following the assault, De Telegraaf reports the pregnant pony developed a mild vulvar infection and exhibited stressful behavior, leading the owner to investigate. The suspect was arrested on October 31, and was handed a restraining order. But despite this, he returned to the meadow once more in April 2025 to abuse the pony. 'He's a serial horse rapist,' the officer told the court. At the time of his arrest, eight recordings of sex with the pony and more than 600 child pornographic images were found at his home, according to Hart van Nederland. According to the suspect, these appeared on his computer while he was searching for naked women. 'I didn't search for child pornography, I'm not a pedophile,' he told the court on Wednesday. Van Z. is also suspected of abusing his Keeshond dog, a charge he denies. According to experts via De Telegraaf, the dog reacts fearfully to men and refuses to be touched from behind. Van Z. vehemently denies having harmed the animal. 'I treated my dog well. The whole street can attest to that,' he told the court. During the hearing, Van Z. said he regrets his actions. 'It was a huge mistake on my part. It was out of unhappiness, loneliness, tension, stress, and setbacks,' he said. 'Those are the main reasons why it happened.' The suspect allegedly met a woman online and claimed he had not had sexual intercourse for a long period of time. He said he wanted to use the pony as practice. 'I know it's unacceptable, I lost my job, my sweetheart, and my dog,' he complained. 'It's just wrong, I really regret it,' he said. The prosecution is demanding a 15-month prison sentence, eight of which are suspended, with a two-year probationary period and a ban on keeping pets. The Public Prosecution Service is also seeking mandatory treatment. His lawyer, however, is requesting a prison sentence equal to the length of his pretrial detention - 103 days - followed by a strict package of conditions, including mandatory treatment. The verdict is scheduled for August 6. It comes after a 'disgusting' pervert who sneaked into a stable and had sex with a Shetland pony avoided jail in June. Damion Ogeare, 43, was captured on CCTV making a 'beeline' towards the equine stables before emerging some 10 minutes later - without any trousers on. A court heard the man had arrived at the outdoor building armed with a dog lead which he used to restrain the mare, named Cassieopia, in January last year. Pony owner Christine Woolley said she believed Ogeare had 'scoped' out the area in advance of carrying out the 'degrading' assault. The homeowner told the court the incident has left her feeling 'exhausted', 'angry' and 'frustrated'.
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Travel + Leisure
23-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Traveler Almost Received an $800 Fine and Lost Global Entry Over an Apple
If you're flying into the U.S. from an international trip, make sure you double check your bag for any food items before entering the airport customs area. A TikTok user learned the consequences of not declaring food when entering the U.S. after a single apple in her bag was caught and confiscated by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The user, Discovering with Dina, posted about her experience returning home to the U.S. from Amsterdam with the forgotten piece of fruit, which almost cost her a large fine and her Global Entry status. The five-second clip shows Dina with her suitcase in the baggage claim area, while the text over the images says, 'She doesn't know it yet but a K9 is about to walk up to her and smell the apple that she forgot to declare in customs causing her to almost get fined $500 and get Global Entry revoked.' She expands on the situation in the caption of the post, explaining that a Customs and Border Control officer came up to her and asked if she had food in her bag because the trained dog was smelling it. Supposedly, the customs officer told her, 'I could fine you $500 right now and revoke your Global Entry." According to Customs and Border Patrol: 'All agriculture items must be declared and are subject to inspection by a CBP Agriculture Specialist at ports of entry to ensure they are free of plant pests and foreign animal diseases." These prohibited or restricted items include fresh fruits and vegetables, plants and cut flowers, seeds, soil, meats, and other products made from animal or plant materials. The officer took Dina's passport and went through all of her bags, according to her account of the incident. 'He said if I had lied about the [a]pple, I would've gotten a $300 fine,' she wrote, 'Then I could've gotten another $500 fine for actually having the apple.' Upon entering the U.S., travelers must declare all purchases over $800, cash (including travelers' checks) over $10,000, and all food, plant, and animal products. The full list of restricted and prohibited items can be found online at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's site at The site has detailed FAQs that instruct travelers on what products they can and cannot bring into the U.S., categorized by which countries they've visited. "We recommend that you keep receipts and original packaging of agricultural products as proof of their country of origin," says the USDA's site. "As long as you declare all agricultural products to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, you will not face any penalties—even if an inspector determines that the items cannot enter the country." Dina was given a warning instead of a fine, and she made the TikTok to warn other people who might find themselves in the same situation. 'Thankfully I was given a warning because this is my first offense but this was a reminder to take it seriously. I genuinely forgot about the apple and declaring it wasn't top of mind since they stopped having you fill out those forms on the plane. I also didn't know you are supposed to declare all food, even if it's processed,' she wrote.
