Dutch "horror dentist" jailed for mutilating many mouths in France

A Dutchman known as the “horror dentist” for mutilating the mouths of more than 100 patients has been sentenced to eight years in France. Jacobus “Mark” van Nierop, 51, performed what the court described as “useless and painful procedures”. It’s thought his aim was to defraud medical insurance and he took “pleasure at causing pain.”

The verdict was delivered by a court in Nevers, in central France, where local media relayed gory tales, some from old-aged pensioners who spoke of having as many as eight teeth pulled out in one sitting, infections and bills of tens of thousands of euros.

“This is a massive relief. We must be very careful from now on when we get practitioners from abroad,” said Nicole Martin, the head of a group of patients who took legal action against van Nierop, who had fled to Canada but was extradited back to France.