Man Who Drugged Wife and Invited Dozens of Men to Rape Her Confesses to Crimes: 'I Am a Rapist'

Mar. 15, 2025

The French manaccused of drugging his wifeand inviting dozens of men to rape her over the course of almost a decade has admitted to the charges against him, according to reports.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Dominique Pélicot appeared in court in Avignon, France and said in his first testimony: “I am a rapist like the others in this room,” per theBBCand French outletsLe ParisienandFrance 24.

According to the BBC, 15 of the 50 defendants at the trial admitted to rape, while most just claimed they’d participated in sexual acts.

“They all knew, they cannot say the contrary,” Dominique, 71, told the court, per the outlet.

A photo taken outside the Avignon courthouse where Dominique Pélicot’s trial is being held.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

“They all knew her condition before they came, they knew everything, they can’t say otherwise,” Dominique added, claiming that his wife “did not deserve this,” according toLe Parisien.

“Even if it’s paradoxical, I never considered my wife as an object, unfortunately, the videos show the opposite,” he said, per the outlet, before asking his family to forgive him: “I regret what I did, I ask for forgiveness, even if it is not forgivable.”

Gisèle’s husband has been accused of inviting multiple men — including firefighters, masons, gardeners, prison guards, soldiers and journalists, now between the ages of 26 and 73 years old — to have sex with her while she was unconscious,Le Parisienpreviously reported.

Gisèle Pélicot pictured on Sept. 17, 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

While speaking in court on Tuesday, Dominique said he “was very happy” with his wife of 50 years, per the BBC.

“It is difficult for me to listen to this. For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would’ve never imagined could be capable of this. I trusted him completely,” Gisèle responded, according to the outlet.

Dominique also said he “loved [his wife] immensely,” per the publication. “I still do,” he added.

“I loved her well for 40 years and badly for 10,” Dominique told the trial, appearing to reference the time he’d spent allegedly abusing her.

Gisèle Pélicot is pictured outside the Avignon courthouse on Sept. 5, 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

On Sept. 5, Gisèle admitted in court that she’d had atwo-year affairwith a friend after she and Dominique had been married for 14 years, per U.K. newspaperThe Telegraph.

She said at the time that her husband “reacted very badly," according to the outlet, adding that she’d “only ever had two men in my bed.”

During Tuesday’s hearing, Dominique said he considered suicide after finding out about the affair, according to the BBC.

Dominique’s court appearance on Tuesday comes after he wastaken to the hospitalamid some health problems a week prior on Tuesday, Sept. 10; which was the day he was originally set to be cross-examined for the first time.

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“I tried to stop, but my addiction was stronger, the need was growing,” he said, according to the BBC. “I was trying to reassure her, I betrayed her trust. I should’ve stopped sooner, in fact I should’ve never started at all.”

source: people.com