France’s Shocking Case of a Husband-Organised Mass Rape, Here Are the 51 Men Sentenced

AVIGNON, France — Dominique Pelicot, 72, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and facilitating her abuse by dozens of men over nearly a decade.

The court in Avignon found Pelicot guilty of multiple charges, including the attempted aggravated rape of another woman and the creation of indecent images involving minors.

Pelicot, who admitted to the charges, stood trial alongside 50 other men, many of whom denied their involvement in the crimes.

Of the co-defendants, 47 were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.

A Decade of Abuse

The court heard that Pelicot routinely drugged his ex-wife and orchestrated the abuse by inviting other men, some of whom he had filmed committing the assaults.

Among the convicted were men from diverse professions, including firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers, and even a journalist.

The crimes came to light in 2020 after Pelicot was caught upskirting at a supermarket, leading investigators to uncover a trove of incriminating evidence.

Profiles of the Convicted

The defendants, ranging in age from 30 to 74, were residents of towns and villages within a 50-kilometre radius of Mazan, the Pelicots’ home. Among those convicted were:

Here are the profiles of the convicted individuals:

1. Dominique Pelicot, 72
   Guilty of aggravated rape of his ex-wife, Gisèle, attempted aggravated rape of another victim, and taking indecent images of his daughter and daughters-in-law. He admitted to drugging and abusing his wife and facilitating her assault by others. Sentenced to 20 years.
2. Jean-Pierre Marechal, 63
   Guilty of attempted rape and aggravated rape of his wife, Cillia, whom he drugged and raped over five years. He also invited Dominique Pelicot to abuse her. Sentenced to 12 years.
3. Charly Arbo, 30
   Guilty of aggravated rape. Sentenced to 13 years.
4. Cyrille Delville, 40
   Guilty of aggravated rape. A father of two. Sentenced to eight years.
5. Christian Lescole, 43
   Guilty of aggravated rape. A volunteer firefighter and father of two daughters. Sentenced to nine years.
6. Lionel Rodriguez, 44
   Guilty of aggravated rape. Worked in a supermarket where Dominique Pelicot was arrested for voyeurism, leading to the investigation. Sentenced to eight years.
7. Nicolas François, 43
   Guilty of aggravated rape and possession of child abuse imagery. A freelance journalist, banned from working with children for several years. Sentenced to eight years.
8. Jacques Cubeau, 73
   Guilty of aggravated rape. A divorced lorry driver and father of two. Sentenced to five years.
9. Patrice Nicolle, 55
   Guilty of aggravated rape. An electrician and father of two. Sentenced to eight years.
10. Thierry Parisis, 54
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Sentenced to eight years.
11. Simoné Mekenese, 43
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A construction worker and father of six who lived next door to the Pelicots. Sentenced to nine years.
12. Nizar Hamida, 40
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Worked as a hairdresser, builder, and delivery driver. Sentenced to 10 years.
13. Boris Moulin, 37
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A delivery driver. Sentenced to eight years.
14. Jerome Vilela, 46
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A former firefighter and supermarket employee, divorced with two children. Sentenced to 13 years.
15. Didier Sambuchi, 68
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A retired lorry driver and father of two. Sentenced to five years.
16. Quentin Hennebert, 34
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A former prison guard turned ambulance driver. Sentenced to seven years.
17. Philippe Leleu, 62
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A gardener. Sentenced to five years, with two suspended.
18. Jean-Luc LA, 46
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A father of four, in jail since 2023. Sentenced to 10 years.
19. Fabien Sotton, 45
    Guilty of aggravated rape. His criminal record includes domestic violence and sexual assault of a minor. Sentenced to 11 years.
20. Karim Sebaoui, 40
    Guilty of aggravated rape and possession of child abuse imagery. An unmarried IT specialist. Sentenced to 10 years.
21. Joan Kawai, 36
    Guilty of aggravated rape. He visited the Pelicots’ home the night his daughter was born. Sentenced to 10 years.
22. Jean-Marc LeLoup, 74
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A retired driver. Sentenced to six years.
23. Andy Rodriguez, 37
    Guilty of attempted rape. Has prior convictions for domestic violence. Sentenced to six years.
24. Vincent Coullet, 43
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Already detained for domestic violence. Sentenced to 10 years.
25. Adrien Longeron, 34
    Guilty of aggravated rape and possession of child abuse imagery. Previously jailed for raping and stalking three ex-girlfriends. Sentenced to six years.
26. Hughes Malago, 39
    Guilty of attempted rape. A tiler and biker. Sentenced to five years.
27. Ahmed Tbarik, 54
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A plumber and boxing club owner, married for 30 years. Sentenced to eight years.
28. Husamettin Dogan, 43
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A married builder with a prior conviction for drug trafficking. Sentenced to nine years.
29. Romain Vandevelde, 63
    Guilty of aggravated rape. HIV-positive. Sentenced to 15 years.
30. Joseph Cocco, 69
    Guilty of aggravated sexual assault. A divorced father of one. Sentenced to three years.
31. Saifeddine Ghabi, 37
    Acquitted of rape but guilty of sexual assault. A lorry driver and father of three. Sentenced to three years.
32. Jean Tirano, 52
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A roofer. Sentenced to eight years.
33. Mohamed Rafaa, 70
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Worked as a DJ and club manager. Sentenced to eight years.
34. Ludovick Blemeur, 39
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A former firefighter and warehouse worker. Sentenced to seven years.
35. Patrick Aron, 60
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Released due to medical issues. Sentenced to six years.
36. Abdelali Dallal, 47
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Released due to medical issues. Sentenced to eight years.
37. Grégory Serviol, 33
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A painter and decorator. Sentenced to eight years.
38. Cedric Grassot, 50
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A delivery driver. Sentenced to 12 years.
39. Cendric Venzin, 44
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Worked as a hotel manager. Sentenced to nine years.
40. Mahdi Daoudi, 36
    Guilty of mass rape and drugging. Married. Sentenced to eight years.
41. Thierry Postat, 61
    Guilty of aggravated mass rape and possession of child pornography. Banned from working with children for life. Sentenced to 12 years.
42. Florian Rocca, 34
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Sentenced to seven years.
43. Dominique Davies, 45
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A lorry driver. Sentenced to 13 years.
44. Cyprien Culieras, 45
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Eight prior convictions. Sentenced to six years.
45. Mathieu Dartus, 53
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A former baker who raised two children after his wife’s death. Sentenced to seven years.
46. Cyril Beaubis, 47
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A lorry driver. Sentenced to nine years.
47. Paul-Koikoi Grovogui, 31
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Sentenced to eight years.
48. Omar Douiri, 36
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Worked for a cleaning company. Sentenced to eight years.
49. Redouane Azougagh, 40
    Guilty of aggravated rape. A father of four with prior domestic violence convictions. Sentenced to nine years.
50. Hassan Ouamou, 30
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Currently on the run in Morocco. Sentenced to 12 years.
51. Redouane El Farihi, 40
    Guilty of aggravated rape. Sentenced to eight years.

The case has sent shockwaves through the small communities involved, with many of the convicted being men of apparent standing in their professions and localities.

“This was a systematic, prolonged, and heinous abuse of trust,” said a representative for the prosecution.

Appeals and Accountability

The convicted men have 10 days to appeal their sentences.

Pelicot, the central figure in the crimes, admitted to his actions but offered no significant defence during the trial.

Authorities continue to investigate the whereabouts of Hassan Ouamou, 30, who was convicted in absentia and is believed to have fled to Morocco.

Legal and Social Impact

The case has underscored the necessity of vigilance against systemic abuse and the importance of support systems for survivors.

Advocates have called for stricter monitoring and legal reform to prevent similar cases in the future.

“This trial is a grim reminder of the depths of human depravity,” said one legal expert. “But it also highlights the resilience of survivors who come forward to seek justice.”

The convictions mark the conclusion of one of the most extensive and harrowing criminal trials in recent French history, leaving an indelible mark on the justice system and the communities involved.