Joel Le Scouarnec: Surgeon accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young patients in France’s largest paedophilia case

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former surgeon who allegedly raped and abused hundreds of young patients, many of whom were under anaesthetic, will be the subject of France’s largest ever child abuse trial later this month. Joel Le Scouarnec, 73, a once-respected surgeon who worked in regions across France, stands accused of assaulting or raping 299 people in a 25-year reign of terror, usually targeting his child patients while working in Brittany. open image in gallery Laura and Jerome the parents of the little girl who sparked the case attend the opening of French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec's trial Officers discovered detailed diaries chronologically listing and naming his victims over decades, disclosing the assaults which he had allegedly committed or wanted to commit across the several hospitals he had worked in, including in Loches, Vannes, Lorient, Quimperlé, and Jonzac. Le Scouarnec’s strategy was to pass off his sexual violence as a professional gesture and target patients so young that they wouldn’t remember or understand what was happening, investigators said.