Dressed in black and showing no emotion, 74-year-old Joel Le Scouarnec stood in court as Judge Aude Burési delivered the verdict: a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the systematic sexual abuse of hundreds of vulnerable patients over a span of 25 years. Le Scouarnec, already serving a previous 15-year sentence from 2020, admitted to the charges in March, acknowledging the abuse of 299 victims.

The court took into account that many of his victims were either under anaesthesia, waking from surgery, or otherwise in a vulnerable state. The sentence requires Le Scouarnec to serve at least two-thirds of the term before being eligible for parole, making him potentially eligible for release in 2030 due to time already served.

Amélie Lévêque, one of his victims, expressed her distress at the idea that Le Scouarnec might walk free one day. "We no longer have normal lives, and they are giving him back his. That disgusts me," she said.

Francesca Satta, a lawyer representing several victims, called the sentence insufficient: "Twenty years is little compared to the number of victims. The law must evolve to ensure more appropriate sentencing."

Le Scouarnec, dubbed France’s most prolific paedophile, faced trial in Brittany over 14 weeks. Throughout, dozens of victims shared painful testimonies of how the abuse had altered the course of their lives. Many were only identified through Le Scouarnec’s own detailed diaries, in which he recorded graphic accounts of his crimes. These journals allowed investigators to locate many victims, some of whom had no recollection of the abuse due to sedation.

In his final statement to the court, Le Scouarnec said, “I can no longer look at myself the same way because I am a paedophile and a child rapist... What I've witnessed [in court] is the suffering for which I am responsible.” He admitted full guilt and declined to seek leniency or appeal the sentence.

Earlier this month, he also acknowledged his role in the suicides of two former patients, who, according to their families, took their lives after learning they had been victims. One of them, Mathis Vinet, died four years ago after descending into deep trauma when police informed him he was named in Le Scouarnec's diaries.

Despite a 2005 conviction for possessing paedophilic images, Le Scouarnec continued treating children for years. This has sparked public outrage and accusations of systemic failure. The trial has drawn criticism for the lack of institutional accountability and political attention. The Victims of Joel Le Scouarnec Collective voiced their frustration, stating that "no lesson has been drawn, neither from the medical world nor from politicians."

A protest was held outside the courthouse, with victims and their families demanding justice not only from the individual but also from the institutions that allowed the abuse to continue unchecked.

Catherine, a mother of one of the victims, noted the belated media interest: "It’s the first time I’ve seen so many journalists here. My hope is that our message finally gets through—not for those already hurt, but for the next generation."

Although Le Scouarnec expressed remorse throughout the trial, many victims found his apologies hollow. "His words are always the same, in the same tone," said Louis-Marie, 35. "I don’t see any sincerity. I just hope he never harms anyone again."

Manon Lemoine, another survivor, added: “I never saw tears running down his cheeks.”

Le Scouarnec’s lawyer, Maxime Tessier, argued that his client was genuinely remorseful and that his confessions marked a moment of truth. However, Tessier also pointed to systemic failures: “All the victims said it wasn’t just one man—it was a system that allowed him to do this.”

The National Order of Doctors (Cnom), which has since filed a lawsuit against Le Scouarnec, acknowledged failures in internal communication and stated that the surgeon should have been barred from practicing long ago.

“This case has exposed serious flaws in our oversight. We deeply regret that he was not stopped sooner,” Cnom said in a March statement.

As the trial concludes, victims, families, and advocates continue to push for broader accountability and legislative change to prevent such atrocities from recurring.