Judges in Amsterdam will press ahead with the trial of a man accused of blackmailing dozens of girls after making sex videos of them on Monday, even though he does not have a lawyer.

Aydin C on Friday asked the court for a delay because his lawyer had walked out on him, saying he had not had enough time to get to grips with the case. Robert Malewicz had taken the case on a month ago after a ‘breach of trust’ between C and his original lawyer.

C will now be supported by a court appointed lawyer, but will not have a defence based on the evidence. Formal hearings will start on Monday, broadcaster Nos said.

The court said that C is responsible for the situation because he knew the case was scheduled to start and had failed to take action to make sure his defence was up to speed.

Victims

It is in the interest of the victims to have the trial proceed as soon as possible, the court said.

C has been remanded in custody for two years on suspicion of abusing up to 40 girls online. He did this by posing as a teenage girl himself. After persuading his victims to carry out sex acts via the webcam, he threatened to send them to family and friends unless they went further.

One of  C’s victims is said to be Canadian girl Amanda Todd who killed herself in October 2012 after a film featuring her was circulated on YouTube.

C is not on trial in connection with the Amanda Todd case, which Canada wants to prosecute itself.