Gisele Pelicot's horrifying explanation for waiving her right to anonymity
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Gisèle Pélicot is the brave survivor behind the mass rape trial that sickened the world. Today, the mother's ex-husband Dominique Pélicot, who orchestrated a near decade of perverted sexual violence against her, cried as he was jailed for 20 years. A total of 50 accomplices were found guilty on charges including aggravated rape and sexual assault, with sentences ranging between 13 and five years (with two suspended) in prison. The men who assaulted the 72-year-old came from all walks of life in France, from a firefighter to a soldier.
As a victim of sexual abuse, Gisèle was entitled to anonymity for life but she bravely waived this to open the trial of 51 men up to the public and the media. Explaining her reasoning, Gisèle, who has left women across the world in awe of her bravery, said: "I want any woman who wakes up one morning with no memories of the night before to remember what I said. So that no more women can fall prey to chemical submission. I was sacrificed on the altar of vice, and we need to talk about it.".
Pelicot's horrific crimes came to light when he was caught videoing up unsuspecting women's skirts in 2020. Police searched the rapist's home and found thousands of pornographic photos and videos on his phone, laptop and USB stick. Gisèle went onto learn the husband, who she thought was 'caring and attentive,' had been crushing sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication into her food and drinks and inviting strangers to rape her over a nine-year period from 2011 to 2020.
