French Surgeon Who Abused Hundreds of Children Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

He was found guilty of 111 rapes and 188 sexual assaults committed between 1989 and 2014.

This courtroom sketch by Valentin Pasquier shows Joel Le Scouarnec, now 74, sitting in courtroom and accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly child patients, at the Vannes courthouse, western France, on the opening day of his trial on Feb. 24, 2025. Valentin Pasquier via AP

A retired surgeon has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing 299 victims, nearly all children, in France’s largest-ever pedophile trial.

Dressed in black and standing emotionless, Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, listened as the judge delivered the verdict in court. He had admitted to the charges in March.