Latest news with #JoelLeScouarnec
France 24
5 days ago
- Health
- France 24
France opens probe into systemic failures behind paedophile surgeon's decades of child abuse
France has opened a judicial inquiry into systemic failures that allowed a convicted paedophile to practise as a surgeon for years while repeatedly abusing children in his care, a prosecutor said Friday. A French court in May sentenced retired doctor Joël Le Scouarnec to 20 years in prison after he confessed to sexually abusing or raping 298 patients between 1989 and 2014. Of those, more than 250 victims were under 15. Victims and child rights advocates say the case highlights systemic flaws that allowed Le Scouarnec to repeatedly commit sexual crimes. Le Scouarnec has been in prison since a court convicted him in 2020 of abusing four children, including two of his nieces. Stephane Kellenberger, prosecutor in the western city of Lorient, said he had ordered an investigation last month into any failures to prevent the crimes. The new probe by an investigating magistrate, which follows a preliminary probe ordered in 2020, would be able to include any relevant elements from the latest trial. An AFP investigation published before the trial showed Le Scouarnec practised medicine for years despite a 2005 sentence for owning sexually abusive images of children, and both a colleague and a regional hospital official reporting him as unfit to practise. When Le Scouarnec was promoted in 2006, his criminal record did not appear to have been updated and was still blank, according to documents from local and regional health agencies, AFP reporting found. Following a regional investigation into a suspicious death at the hospital where he worked, Le Scouarnec moved to the southwest of the country. Investigators only uncovered his alleged crimes after he retired in 2017, when a six-year-old girl accused him of rape and police found countless accounts of abuse in his diaries. During the trial, the National Order of Physicians – a civil party in the case – said it "regretted" what it described as "dysfunctions" that allowed him to continue to practise. A collective of the former surgeon's victims said a telephone hotline was launched on Thursday to provide support to victims, relatives and professionals who have followed the case. Investigators are also looking into whether there are more victims.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
Lawyer who defended ‘worst paedophile in history' who raped hundreds of children dies in suicide just weeks after trial
THE lawyer for a French surgeon dubbed one of country's worst sex offenders in history has died in an apparent suicide, a prosecutor has said. Maxime Tessier, 34, had defended Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, who admitted at his trial to sexually assaulting or raping hundreds of patients between 1989 and 2014. 2 Many of Le Scouarnec's 298 victims were children. He was sentenced by a French court to to 20 years in prison back in May. Frederic Teillet, chief prosecutor in the western French city of Rennes, said that an investigation had been started into the lawyer's death. "Everything points to suicide," Teillet said. Catherine Glon, his associate, said he "had a very high regard for justice and was therefore very demanding towards himself." Tessier had been one of two lawyers defending Le Scouarnec, who is considered one of the most egregious sex offenders in French criminal history.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Lawyer who defended depraved surgeon dubbed France's worst paedophile 'kills himself' weeks after his 'devil in a white coat' client was jailed for raping 298 patients
A lawyer who defended a surgeon dubbed France 's worst paedophile has died in an apparent suicide, a prosecutor said on Wednesday. Maxime Tessier, 34, represented the disgraced Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, who confessed at his trial to sexually assaulting or raping 298 patients between 1989 and 2014, many of them children. Everything points to suicide,' Frederic Teillet, chief prosecutor in the western French city of Rennes, said of the lawyer's death, adding that an investigation had been opened. Tessier, a father of two young children, 'had a very high regard for justice and was therefore very demanding towards himself', said Catherine Glon, his associate. 'We are obviously in shock', she added. He was one of two lawyers defending Le Scouarnec, one of the most infamous sex predators in French criminal history. Child rights advocates say the case had highlighted systemic failures that allowed Le Scouarnec to repeatedly commit sexual crimes. A prosecutor in the case called the former doctor 'the devil... dressed in a white coat'. He abused many victims while they were under anaesthesia or waking up after operations. A French court sentenced Le Scouarnec to 20 years in prison in May. His offences took place between 1989 and 2014, while other alleged crimes were not prosecute because they happened too long ago. During a three-month trial held in Vannes, the court heard how Le Scourarnec mainly abused patients while they were still under anaesthetic or slowly waking up following operations. Thomas Delaby, a barrister representing one of his victims, told Le Scourarnec he is 'the worst mass paedophile who ever lived' and 'an atomic bomb of paedophilia. Your victims will never forgive you'. Speaking just before the verdict, Le Scourarnec said: 'I'm not asking the court for leniency. Simply grant me the right to become a better person.' The defendant also explained how he had caused the the deaths of at least two of his victims. Le Scouarnec said: 'I am responsible for the deaths of Mathis Vinet, who died after an overdose in 2021' and Alan Roux, who was found hanged at his home in 2020. Lawyer Tessier, asked the court at the time to take into account the 'exceptional' nature of the surgeon's confession. In turn, prosecutors who had heard Le Scouarnec described as 'France's worst ever paedophile' said he was 'a devil' and there was 'a very high risk' of him re-offending if ever allowed out of his cell. Stéphane Kellenberger, the Attorney General, said his proven crimes were committed against 158 males and 141 females, with an average age of 11. Le Scouarnec had also kept a record of his crimes, documenting the victims' names, ages, addresses and the nature of the abuse. In his notes, the doctor described himself as a 'major pervert' and a 'paedophile'. 'And I am very happy about it,' he recorded. People demonstrated with posters reading 'No excuse for abuses', left, and 'How many more?', right, ahead of the verdict in the trial of Joel Le Scouarnec The graphic details allowed the police to track down his victims as most had no memory of the abuse as they were still unconscious. The verdict said the jury came to their decision after taking 'into account that the acts committed are of particular gravity due to the number of victims, their young age and the compulsive nature' of the crimes. Requesting a 'maximum possible sentence of twenty years' for Le Scouarnec, Mr Kellenberger said there needed to be 'additional security measures,' because of the danger Le Scourarnec still posed. The surgeon practised for decades until his retirement in 2017, despite a 2005 sentence for owning sexually abusive images of children. His wife, Marie-France Le Scouarnec, was also portrayed as a ruthless accomplice, while denying any wrongdoing. She spent her days taking lovers and going to aqua-aerobics, while her once highly respected surgeon husband repeatedly attacked children, it was alleged. Ms Le Scouarnec, the mother of his three sons, lived with him throughout that time, and has always denied knowing what he was doing. His wife, Marie-France Le Scouarnec, was also portrayed as a ruthless accomplice, while denying any wrongdoing But Patrick Le Scouarnec, the 70-year-old brother of the defendant, told the court that she was being untruthful. 'There is another person who could have ensured that my brother was arrested – it is his wife, Marie-France,' said Mr Le Scouarnec. Victims of Le Scouarnec have also accused Ms Le Scouarnec of covering up his 'paedocriminal activities' for decades. Ms Le Scouarnec said: 'I wondered how I could have not noticed anything. It's a terrible betrayal that he committed against me and my children.'
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Straits Times
Lawyer of sex abuse surgeon in France dies in apparent suicide
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Lawyer Maxime Tessier represented jailed French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, who confessed at his trial to sexually assaulting or raping 298 patients between 1989 and 2014, many of them children. RENNES, France - A lawyer for Joel Le Scouarnec, a French surgeon who sexually abused and raped patients over decades, has died in an apparent suicide, a prosecutor said on July 9. Mr Maxime Tessier, 34, defended Le Scouarnec, 74, who confessed at his trial to sexually assaulting or raping 298 patients between 1989 and 2014, many of them children. A French court sentenced Le Scouarnec to 20 years in prison in May. 'Everything points to suicide,' Mr Frederic Teillet, chief prosecutor in the western French city of Rennes, said of the lawyer's death, adding that an investigation had started. Mr Tessier, a father of two young children, 'had a very high regard for justice and was therefore very demanding towards himself', said Ms Catherine Glon, his associate. He was one of two lawyers defending Le Scouarnec, one of the most infamous sex predators in French criminal history. Child rights advocates say the case had highlighted systemic failures that allowed Le Scouarnec to repeatedly commit sexual crimes. A prosecutor in the case called the former doctor 'the devil... dressed in a white coat'. He abused many victims while they were under anaesthesia or waking up after operations. AFP A February 2025 photo shows retired surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec (right) arriving for a court hearing. PHOTO: AFP
France 24
30-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Gaza, 'Taco Trump', Musk ‘overboarded', Macron's ‘le slap'
It's been a week that's seen a French doctor, Joel Le Scouarnec, thought to be the country's most prolific paedophile, sentenced to a further 20 years in jail. He's already in prison for other crimes. The 74 year old former surgeon admitted abusing almost 300 people. Many were children under sedation in hospital who didn't know they'd been assaulted until they were told by police. Advocacy groups say that it's exposed serious failings of French health authorities, accusing them of not caring to act when first made aware of his conviction for downloading images of child rape, two decades previously. It's been the week that Elon Musk said goodbye to the Trump Administration and left his role at the White House. The world's richest man said his time has come to an end at the department of government efficiency just days after his public critique of Trump's so called Big Beautiful tax bill, calling it too expensive and undermining the point of Doge. Washington insiders say it was his time, quoting sources suggesting he'd been seen as a bit of nuisance in the Trump inner circle. White House officials tell reporters he was quote 'off boarded' on Wednesday night. And it was a week that created an inadvertent legacy moment for Emmanuel Macron, on manoeuvres in south east Asia. A moment likely to be included in every future look back at the President's career. A push in the face from the First Lady. Pay no attention to the couple behind the plane's curtain. 'Play fighting' said the President.
