Loose Women’s Denise Welch fumes over rapist athlete competing in 2024 Olympic Games
Charlotte Dujardin has come under fire after footage showed her whipping a horse during a training session – but for Denise Welch, another Olympic athlete deserves just as much criticism
Denise Welch was frustrated that Steven van de Velde received close to no backlash for raping a 12-year-old after Charlotte Dujardin’s own actions caused her to be suspended.
The British dressage star, 39, was forced to pull out of the 2024 Olympic Games when footage showed her repeatedly whipping the back of a horse’s legs and she was suspended by the equestrian governing body, the FEI.
But as the dressage rider remains under fire for what she has described as “an error of judgement”, Loose Women panellist Denise Welch was seething to know that Steven van de Velde had been selected to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball despite his rape conviction.
Steven van de Velde has been backed to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball despite his rape conviction (
Image:
Getty Images)
When discussing Charlotte Dujardin with co-stars Judi Love, Mariella Frostrup and Coleen Nolan, Denise seethed: “The headlines all over the papers this week, and on television this morning, it’s about the cruelty to this horse and I completely understand that.” Before she moved on to Steven van de Velde.
She then continued to summarise the situation in a dismayed tone: “He was given a four-year sentence f which he served a year and he has been supported by the board at the Olympics and they are saying: ‘we’ve got everything in place, he’s not allowed to mix with anyone’.”
Denise was then clearly livid as she added: “We’re talking about violence against women and we’re making headlines of this equestrian situation, which is serious, but nobody seems to be talking, front page wise, about what’s going on.”
Steven van de Velde was found guilty of raping the girl at an address in Milton Keynes ten years ago. Having become acquainted with her on Facebook, the then 19-year-old travelled to the UK and police were alerted to the rape after his victim sought the morning after pill at a family planning clinic.
He was given a four-year sentence at Aylesbury Crown Court in 2016 after pleading guilty to three counts of rape and served a year in a Netherlands jail before his release.
Dutch Olympic chiefs say that Van de Velde has “sought and received professional counselling [and] demonstrated to those around him – privately and professionally – self-insight and reflection.”
News
Lady C delivers a scathing rebuke to Meghan Markle, accusing her of using deceptive methods and manipulating public opinion—a thorough examination of the escalating royal dispute.K
Lady C Launches Scathing Attack on Meghan Markle: Accuses Her of Manipulative Tactics and Public Deception—A Deep Dive into the Evolving Royal Controversy Lady C has recently launched a fierce critique against Meghan Markle, accusing her of delivering more offensive…
SHOCKING REVELATION: Duchess Kate Breaks Silence on Meghan Markle’s Racism Claims in Oprah Interview, Meghan Left Speechless! K
Duchess Kate Breaks Silence on Meghan Markle’s Racism Claims in Oprah Interview, Meghan Left Speechless! Princess Kate shut down the Royal Family race row with a “powerful phrase”, a commentator has claimed. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were famously interviewed…
Loose Women Shocker: Janet Street-Porter and Denise Welch Drop Bombshell About Their Past Feud, TV Audience Left Stunned!K
Janet Street-Porter and Denise Welch Drop Bombshell About Their Past Feud, TV Audience Left Stunned! Loose Women panellists Janet Street-Porter and Denise Welch hinted at a past feud on Tuesday’s show Janet Street-Porter and Denise Welch revealed they “didn’t speak” in the past…
WATCH as Prince Harry, who COULD NOT LOOK MORE MISERABLE in a lot of pictures from Colombia, finally HAD 3 MINUTES feeling chilled out enough to rest his arm on the back of another woman’s, not Meghan, chair .K
WATCH as Prince Harry feeling chilled out enough to rest his arm on the back of another woman’s, not Meghan, chair Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on their much-anticipated tour of Colombia, where their contrasting styles and relaxed demeanor…
EXCLUSIVE: Prince William Condemns Brother Prince Harry: “No Path Back to Royal Family,” he asserts. “Stop Masquerading as Royalty.”K
EXCLUSIVE: Prince William Condemns Brother Prince Harry: “No Path Back to Royal Family,” he asserts. “Stop Masquerading as Royalty.” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on a ticking clock if they want to rejoin the Royal family, an expert…
Harry and Meghan ‘fear having to relocate back to UK’ as she has ‘bitter pill to swallow to save their marriage’.K
Harry and Meghan ‘fear having to relocate back to UK’ as she has ‘bitter pill to swallow to save their marriage’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly feel worried they may have to return to the UK amid claims about his visa….
End of content
No more pages to load
