French Court Sentences Dominique Pelicot to 20 Years for Decade-Long Abuse of Ex-Wife

71-Year-Old Found Guilty of Orchestrating Systematic Sexual Assaults with Recruited Accomplices

A French court has sentenced 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for repeatedly raping his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, and facilitating her abuse by recruiting strangers online over a period of nearly a decade. The shocking case, detailed by CNN, has also implicated 50 additional individuals in the crimes, some of whom received lighter sentences.

Details of the Crime

Pelicot drugged his wife with sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, rendering her unconscious, and invited 50–70 men via online platforms to assault her in their home. Evidence revealed that these assaults began in 2011 and continued for nearly 10 years.

An investigation launched in 2020 uncovered the abuse after Pelicot was arrested for filming women’s skirts in a shopping center. His phone and computer contained damning footage of the assaults on his wife, who was unaware of the crimes.

Convictions and Sentences

While Pelicot received the harshest penalty, 51 others were convicted, with five men walking free due to time served or suspended sentences. Judge Roger Arata noted that health issues delayed the immediate imprisonment of some defendants, stating, “A few more days of freedom while we find a suitable prison.”

Survivor’s Ordeal

The abuse against Gisele Pelicot has drawn widespread condemnation, with evidence showing at least 92 separate assaults by 72 men between the ages of 26 and 74. Prosecutors revealed that some perpetrators claimed ignorance of her drugged state, while Pelicot asserted all were aware.

Systematic Failure

The case has spotlighted systemic gaps in preventing such horrific abuse, sparking public debate about safeguarding measures for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Advocacy groups have called for stricter monitoring of online platforms and tougher penalties for sexual violence.

This deeply disturbing case has underlined the need for vigilance, support systems for victims, and robust legal frameworks to prevent such abuses in the future.