A father of 12 has admitted to sexually abusing 10 of his children and two of their friends.
Steffen H, sexually abused the children between 2001 and 2022, some of whom were just three-years-old when it happened, German media reports.
‘I am ashamed of the heinous acts against my own children and two friends,’ he told the court in Chemnitz, according to Bild.
‘I want to go to therapy so that my children will forgive me. I still love my children very much.’
The dad was famous in his hometown of Leipzig, Germany, after his ex-wife left him in 2006 to raise his children from his first marriage alone.
He was given the nickname ‘Papawittchen’ which is a mix of words that translates to ‘dad’ and ‘Snow White’.
But behind the cameras he was sexually abusing his children, RTL reports.
Steffen was also referred to by German media as ‘superdad’, and thanks to that positive coverage a woman referred to in court as Mandy K reached out to him.
They formed a relationship and had more children together, but she has since left him.
She claims to know nothing of the sexual abuse and she, alongside the children, is a co-plaintiff in the case.
Steffen’s confession means his children and other victims will not testify in court.
Dominik Schulz, president of the regional court where the trial is held, told RTL: ‘The children were, let’s say, available for so long.
‘A truly terrible approach and, from a human perspective, really difficult to understand.’
The verdict is expected in March and Steffen could face up to 10 years in jail.
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