• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband Dominique jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of raping and drugging his wife

Home> News> World News

Updated 10:32 19 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 09:41 19 Dec 2024 GMT

Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband Dominique jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of raping and drugging his wife

A court in France sentenced Dominique Pelicot to two decades behind bars

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

The disgraced former husband of Gisèle Pelicot has today (19 December) been jailed for 20 years.

Dominique Pelicot, 71, had pleaded guilty to repeatedly drugging his wife and inviting strangers to rape her over a span of almost a decade.

He stood in the dock alongside another 50 defendants on charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault at a court in Avignon, France.

Following the harrowing mass rape trial which has shocked the world, a panel of five judges today delivered verdicts for the more than four dozen men in the dock.

Advert

Prosecutors were seeking the maximum punishment of 20 years in jail for Pelicot and between four and 18 years for the other men who abused an unconscious Gisèle.

The courageous abuse survivor, who waived her right to anonymity, was seen resting her head on the wall of the courtroom as the judges handed down a two decade sentence to her former spouse.

Gisèle seen arriving at court today ahead of the verdict (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Gisèle seen arriving at court today ahead of the verdict (CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelicot was seen in tears as he heard his fate, as officials also found him guilty of making and distributing images of a sexual nature of his daughter and two daughters-in-law.

He had been married to Gisèle for five decades before his sick crimes began around ten years ago.

Advert

Pelicot started drugging his spouse and confessed that he hid tranquillisers in her food and drink to knock her out.

He would then invite strangers who he found in online chatrooms around to their home to have sex with her.

Most of these men were considered to be respected figures in their communities - who worked as firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers and security guards.

Chillingly, most of the attackers came from areas within a 30-mile radius of the village where Gisèle lived, Mazan.

Pelicot filmed the sick assaults, while Gisèle had no idea that she was being attacked.

Advert

He admitted: "I am a rapist. I acknowledge all the facts [of the case] in their entirety."

The men were not instructed to wear condoms and Gisèle contracted four sexually transmitted infections due to the abuse.

The country has rallied behind the courageous mother throughout the court case (Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The country has rallied behind the courageous mother throughout the court case (Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Incredibly, the 72-year-old somehow found the strength to confront her abusers head on,.

Gisèle bravely waived her right to anonymity and decided to put the shame back onto the perpetrators.

Advert

"I’ve decided not to be ashamed - I’ve done nothing wrong,” she said in court. "They [the rapists] are the ones who must be ashamed.

“I’m not expressing hatred or hate, but I am determined that things change in this society.

"It’s not courage. It’s determination to change things. This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims."

All 51 men were found guilty of charges of attacking Gisèle - 47 were found guilty of rape, two were found guilty of attempted rape and two were found guilty of sexual assault.

Five of the men will walk free from court later today due to the time they have already served behind bars, while others were given suspended sentences.

Advert

Presiding Judge Roger Arata also told the court, as per CNN: "Several of the convicted men will not be taking to prison immediately because of their health.

"A few more days of freedom while we find a suitable prison."

A number of the convicted men who visited the Pelicot household numerous times were slapped with large sentences.

Romain V., who attended the property on six occasions, was given 15 years, while Charly A., who also visited six times, was locked up for 13 years.

The defendants each have ten days to appeal their sentence.

Pelicot's lawyer said he is considering lodging one, according to Reuters.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.

Featured Image Credit: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images/Julien Goldstein/Getty Images

Topics: World News, Crime, True Crime

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Missing 'Star Dust' plane vanished after cryptic Morse code message as Amelia Earhart plane 'finally discovered'

    The missing aircraft remained a mystery for more than 50 years

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Max Verstappen releases statement as Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years

    Horner served as team principle and CEO of Red Bull Racing since 2005

    News

    breaking

  • 2 hours ago

    Amelia Earhart nearly followed a completely different career that didn't involve flying at all as missing plane 'finally found'

    Amelia Earhart's life would've followed a completely different path if she'd continued with her university course

    Originals
  • 3 hours ago

    Russia issues response to leaked audio tapes of Donald Trump threatening to 'bomb the s**t' out of Moscow

    The recordings are believed to be from a conversation between Trump and private donors in 2024

    News
  • French court declares ex-husband of Gisele Pelicot guilty on all charges of raping and drugging his wife
  • Man jailed for six-and-a-half years after being found guilty of assault against girlfriend who took her own life
  • How L.A. detective murdered ex-partner's new wife and managed to get away with it for 20 years
  • Musician Sean Kingston faces up to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in £780,000 fraud case