French Man Jailed for Drugging and Sexually Assaulting Partner in Case Linked to Pelicot Investigation

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Lyon: A French court has sentenced a 39-year-old man to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of repeatedly drugging and sexually assaulting his partner over several years, while also recording the abuse.

The court in Lyon convicted the former bodyguard on all charges, citing the seriousness of the offences and the disturbing nature of the evidence presented during the trial. He was also stripped of his parental rights over the son he shared with the victim.

The abuse took place between 2015 and June 2023, when the man was arrested. Investigators discovered videos of the assaults as well as online conversations in which he shared intimate images of his partner without her consent.

The case emerged from a wider investigation linked to convicted French rapist Dominique Pelicot. Authorities found messages showing Pelicot offering advice to the accused, who indicated that he intended to follow those recommendations.

During the trial, prosecutors described the defendant's actions as manipulative and calculated. The victim's lawyer said the verdict marked an important step forward for her client as she sought to rebuild her life.

Addressing the court before sentencing, the man apologised to his partner and family members, saying he no longer recognised the person he had become and acknowledging that he had destroyed the life he once had.

The case has drawn renewed attention in France to issues surrounding sexual violence, consent and the long-lasting impact such crimes have on victims and their families.

Pic Credit: AFP