Jacobus van Nierop, 'Dentist of Horror,' Goes on Trial in France

Jacobus van Nierop, called the "dentist of horror" by French media, went on trial Tuesday, accused of aggravated assault and fraud in his treatment of more than 100 patients, reported Agence France-Presse.

Prosecutors in Nevers charge van Nierop, 51, injured many of his patients by stripping out healthy teeth and leaving them with broken jaws, recurrent abscesses and septicemia.

The Dutch native began working in the rural area of Chateau-Chinon in central France in 2008, said AFP.

Complaints started soon after, said the BBC News.

Some patients charged that van Nierop left them with infected gums. They said he pulled out fillings in favor of more expensive treatments that left their mouths bleeding for days afterward, said BBC News.

Other patients complained of exorbitant dental fees, said Vice News. Thérèse Zbinden said she spent more than $35,000 for dental care between 2009 and 2012. Other patients alleged they were charged for services that where never performed.

Patients didn't know van Nierop had his dentistry licenses taken away in the Netherlands. He was placed under court supervision and ordered not to leave France in 2013, but he fled to Canada later that year, said Vice.

He was arrested in New Brunswick, Canada in September 2014 and returned to the Netherlands first and then to France after fight extradition, noted AFP and Vice.

"We first hope to have some explanations, to... understand how Mr. Van Nierop has been able to behave in such a way for so long, how things became so serious," said attorney Charles-Joseph Oudinhe, who is representing some of van Nierop's patients, noted the BBC News.

If van Nierop is found guilty, he could spend 10 years in prison and be ordered to pay $165,000 in fines, noted AFP

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