[dighton]

Smelly feet man loses court appeal

A Dutchman who ended up in court for going into a library with smelly feet has lost his appeal and had his fine more than doubled.

The 39-year-old Rotterdam man was fined £70 for repeatedly going into the university library in Delft and taking off his shoes.

He was convicted of trespass because he kept going into the library despite the fact he had been banned for upsetting other users.

Library staff told police he had been using the library for about a year and that other people had to leave because his feet smelled so bad.

The man, named by De Telegraaf as Theunis T, took the case to the Dutch Court of Appeal but lost and his fine was increased to £175.

However, he said: "I will go to the Dutch High Council. I know I'm right. The library should never have denied me entry for a reason like that."

Story filed: 14:20 Friday 11th April 2003

[johniegrad]

Tough case. Took them 10 months to adjudicate.

[general_re]

Want zíjn voeten zouden stinken?

A very good question. A question I think we're all entitled to hear answered, to be sure.

Pronunciation guide - learn Dutch in three E.Z. lessons!

[knighthawk]

And I see I didn't put up the promised translation.

But here is a quick one of the best part:

Het is een volledig nieuwe reukervaring. Niet de bekende rotte-eierenlucht. Ook niet zurig. Het is nauwelijks te omschrijven. De stank is alom, zwaar en onvergetelijk. Eenmaal in je neus laat die je niet meer los, blijft nog uren bij je hangen. Je natte handdoek twee maanden in een vergeten sporttas op zolder laten zitten? Zoiets. Een zak aardappelen weken laten rotten in je keukenkastje? Komt in de buurt. Maar dit is penetranter. En dan heeft Gerard zijn schoenen nog niet eens uitgetrokken.

It's a brand new smelling-experience. Not the know smell of rotting eggs. Also not like acid. It's almost too difficult to describe. The smell is present, heavy, ahd something you will never forget. Once it reaced your nose, it will never let off, it will stick for hours. Forget to wash a wet towel in you sportsbag and left it in the attic for two months? Something like that. A sack of patatoes which is rotting for weeks in the kitchencupboard? Gets close. But this is even worse. And Gerard (which is the name he wasn't to be know with in the newspaper) hasn't even put off his shoes.