Former surgeon jailed over sex attacks on 299 victims

A former surgeon has been sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison after being found guilty of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims most of whom were his child patients in France’s largest child abuse trial.

- TARA COBHAM, RACHEL CLUN

Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, was accused of a pattern of violence spanning more than three decades, between 1989 and 2014, committed against 158 boys and 141 girls. The survivors were aged 11 on average and were alone in their hospital rooms when he attacked them, with some unconscious at the time and so having no memory of the assaults.

The 74-year-old’s four-month trial began in February, and he admitted to all charges the following month. He previously told the court in Vannes: “I committed odious acts. They were only children ... I am aware that these injuries are irreparable. I cannot go back in time, but I owe it to all of these people and their loved ones to take responsibility for my actions.”

Prosecutors sought a 20-year term as it is the maximum sentence for aggravated rape. Under French law, sentences cannot be added together. However, the state prosecutor, Stephane Kellenberger, had also made the rare request for a post-sentence preventative detention order on the grounds that there was “no way to verify” Le Scouarnec’s claim he no longer felt any sexual attraction to children.