Former Dutch cycling talent could face up to 4 years in prison after armed robbery

Jesse M. (27) was one of the rising names at the Dutch junior scene a decade ago, until he was handed a four-year doping ban at the age of 17. On top of that, his father, himself a former cyclist, was given a lifelong cycling ban for administering Nandrolone to his son. Jesse never returned to cycling and instead his life spiralled out of control.

In court, M. stated that he got stuck in a vicious circle with no way out. "I started gambling, which caused me financial problems. To deal with that stress, I used medication," he said, among other things. M. became addicted to the addictive painkiller oxycodone, but he also used hard drugs such as MDMA, amphetamine and GHB. He used the latter drug in 2024 in an attempt to take his own life.

According to RTV Dordrecht, M.'s debts are running well over 100,000 euros. After he gambled off the last of his borrowed money, M. decided to commit an armed robbery in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where he is said to have waved a gun. "I want to see money, otherwise I'm going to shoot," he shouted, according to witnesses.

M. then allegedly put an employee of Dalm in a chokehold and put a gun to his temple. According to him, he then fired a shot at the ground after being startled by the fact that the father of the Dalm brothers emerged with a hunting rifle. M. was then overpowered and tied up with tiewraps, injuring himself.

The Public Prosecution Service has demanded a 48-month prison sentence, of which 12 months conditional, against M., cooperation with debt counselling and substance abuse control. His lawyer thinks that sentence is too severe, because M. intends to 'go in the right direction'.

In prison, the former cyclist follows a reduction schedule for his medication and he hopes to pay off his debts 'by quickly getting to work'. "I hope for an appropriate sentence and the help I need, then I can close this off and get on with my life," says M. The verdict will be announced on 27 June.