A French court is set to deliver a verdict in one of the country's largest child sex abuse cases, involving Joël Le Scouarnec, a 74-year-old former surgeon accused of raping and sexually assaulting 299 children over more than two decades. Prosecutors have requested a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for Le Scouarnec, whom they referred to as "a devil in a white coat." He is currently serving a 15-year sentence for a previous conviction in 2020 related to the rape and sexual assault of four children, including two of his nieces.

The trial, held in Brittany, western France, began in February and has revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse occurring between 1989 and 2014, primarily targeting young hospital patients who were unconscious or sedated at the time of the assaults. The average age of the victims was 11, comprising 158 boys and 141 girls.

During the proceedings, advocacy groups have accused health authorities of failing to take appropriate action after being informed of Le Scouarnec's past conviction for possessing child pornography in 2005. Despite this grave offense, no steps were taken to suspend his medical license or limit his access to children, allowing him to continue his abusive behavior until his arrest in 2017.

Prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger questioned whether Le Scouarnec should be the only one facing justice, stating, "More could have been done... Things could have been done differently." His remarks highlighted the bureaucratic failures that allowed Le Scouarnec to prey on innocent lives for years.

Le Scouarnec has admitted to the sexual abuse of the alleged 299 victims, as well as other incidents that are now beyond the statute of limitations. His confessions during the trial included a shocking admission of sexual abuse against his granddaughter, which he stated in front of her upset parents. His earlier conviction in 2005, which resulted in a four-month suspended sentence, was followed by his appointment as a hospital practitioner, raising further questions about institutional accountability.

The trial has been noted as pivotal by child protection groups, as they hope it will prompt legal reforms to prevent future cases of abuse. Activists have been working to dismantle the long-standing taboos surrounding sexual abuse in France, with high-profile cases like Gisèle Pélicot's coming to light. Pélicot was drugged and raped by her ex-husband, who along with dozens of other men, received sentences ranging from three to 20 years.

Victims of Le Scouarnec have expressed dissatisfaction with the response from the government and medical community, stating, "This trial seems to leave no mark on the government, the medical community, or society at large.” Many victims did not realize they had been abused until contacted by investigators, who uncovered disturbing notebooks kept by Le Scouarnec, detailing his crimes in appalling detail. Some individuals identified as victims were unaware of their abuse until they reviewed their medical records.

Throughout the trial, Le Scouarnec maintained a calm and composed demeanor. He remarked, "I didn’t see them as people... As the trial went on, I began to see them as individuals, with emotions, anger, suffering, and distress." Despite admitting his actions, his emotional detachment and efforts to apologize to some victims came off as insincere.

The case initially surfaced in April 2017, following a report from a 6-year-old neighbor who accused Le Scouarnec of inappropriate behavior. A subsequent investigation revealed over 300,000 images of child abuse, along with 650 videos depicting pedophilic and other illicit content, as well as notebooks where he outlined his predatory actions.

Prosecutors are seeking both a 20-year prison sentence and a post-sentence preventive detention proposal, a rarely utilized measure in France intended for the most dangerous offenders. This measure could result in Le Scouarnec being held indefinitely in a secure facility after serving his sentence. Additionally, a third trial is expected in the coming years due to the emergence of new allegations, including further abuse involving his granddaughter.