Paedophile surgeon who abused hundreds of children jailed for 20 years

Joel Le Scouarnec was called "a devil in a white coat" by prosecutors

Joel Le Scouarnec, who worked as a surgeon, was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting close to 300 children in one of the country's largest cases of its kind this week.

"I'm aware that the harm I've caused is beyond repair," he said at the opening of his trial in February, per Sky News.

"I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives."

The majority of his victims, who were both boys and girls, suffered abuse while anaesthetised or waking up from operations between 1989 and 2014.

Le Scouarnec kept notebook and diary records of his reign of horror, which police discovered in 2017 after a six-year-old neighbour accused him of sexually abusing her in the garden.

BBC reports Le Scouarnec was stood emotionless in court listening to judge Aude Burési's verdict.

"20 years is little compared to the number of victims in this trial. It is time for the law to change so we can have more appropriate sentences," said lawyer Francesca Satta.

The convicted paedophile, who is already serving a 15-year jail sentence, commented during his final statement: "I can no longer look at myself the same way because I am a paedophile and a child rapist.

"Many things have been said. I don't necessarily remember everything now. It will no doubt come back to me when I'm in my cell, but what I've witnessed [in court] is the suffering for which I am responsible."

Louis-Marie, one of the ex-doctor's victims, wasn't convinced by his demeanour though.

"His words are always the same, in the same tone, I don't see any sincerity in them," she claimed. "The only thing I hope is that he doesn't do any more harm to society... that he stays locked up."