NEWS Dangerous Pretoria paedophile jailed indefinitely August 7, 2003 PRETORIA - The usually staid atmosphere in the Pretoria High Court was on Wednesday shattered with flying books and expletives when a dangerous paedophile lost his temper after being sent to jail indefinitely. Judge Ronnie Bosielo declared Michiel Meintjies, 34, a danger for the physical and psychological wellbeing of others, sent him to jail indefinitely and ordered that he must be brought back to court after 10 years for a further psychiatric report and reconsideration of his sentence. It is imperative that the community, and particularly young children were protected from him, the judge said. In practice the sentence means that Meintjies, who was convicted on 13 charges of sodomising young boys, exposing them to pornography, creating and possessing child pornography, might remain behind bars for the rest of his life. Meintjies was previously also sent to jail for molesting six young boys, but simply continued his career of abuse after being released. Shortly after Bosielo started his opening remarks, Meintjies opened the zip of his pants, took out a syringe and attempted to inject himself with a substance he had brought with him. When a policeman confiscated the syringe and alerted the judge of his behaviour, he acted as if nothing had happened and complained that he could not hear properly. A few minutes later he interrupted the judge and loudly complained that he no longer trusted his advocate and wanted her to leave the court. Bosielo silenced him and ordered him to sit down when he started telling the court about his drug dealing and use in jail. His biggest outburst, however, came after Bosielo had already left the court, when he angrily started throwing things around, including a heavy legal book, which narrowly missed a frightened stenographer and saw advocates and journalists fleeing the courtroom. He was manhandled out of the courtroom by a policeman, who shortly thereafter had to bandage Meintjies' arm when Meintjies cut himself with a razor blade in the court cells. Bosielo said the whole trial had been marked by Meintjies' acrimonious outbursts and unsavoury behaviour. He did not seem to respect any authority and tended to believe he could manipulate the court for his own selfish reasons. It was exactly the behaviour described in a psychiatric report, the judge said after Wednesday's outburst. Meintjies, who was reported to have masturbated and thrown people with his semen during a court appearance in the Regional Court, on two occasions appeared in the high court semi-naked and once had to be carried in and out of court by two policemen because he was so drugged that he could not stand up. Bosielo referred to psychiatric reports which described Meintjies as a dangerous paedophile who was addicted to substances, had a psychopathic personality and should not be allowed anywhere near children. It was clear that the accused had a deep-seated propensity to sexually molest young children, expose them to pornographic material, take naked pictures of them and simulate sex on them or have sex simulated on him. He admitted that he had a serious obsession for young children and that he was a danger to young children and could not be left in their company unattended. It was clear that he was indeed a dangerous paedophile. In 1991 he was convicted for similar offences with six young boys. He had in the past received treatment in the Weskoppies psychiatric hospital, but it did not succeed to cure his obsession with young children. He has suffered from the disorder since he was 14 and in standard six, the judge said. He said Meintjies should never be given another opportunity to be in contact with children and deserved to be removed from -Sapa