Vaness, France - French court on Wednesday gave a maximum 20-year prison term to a surgeon who admitted sexually abused hundreds of patients, most of whom were children, over two decades.

Three months Joel Le Scouarnec's Trial74, has revealed his crimes and the degree of suffering of his victims, but also raised the question of why not do more to stop him as soon as possible.

Le Scouarnec is one of the most prolific convicted sexual predators in French history, jailed after being sentenced to 15 years in 2020 for rape and sexual assault on four children, including two nieces.

The 20-year sentence for aggravated rape by presided judge Aude Buresi was the highest sentence for aggravated rape in France, and in France, the sentences were not added together.

Le Scouarnec will not be able to claim parole until two-thirds of the judgment.

The verdict said: “Considering the acts committed are particularly valued due to the number of victims, their age and the nature of compulsiveness.”

But the court rejected the rare request from the prosecutor that he should hold it at the Treatment and Supervision Center even after any release, citing his “desire to make corrections” what he did for himself.

Prosecutors said last week that in the opposite case, Le Scouarnec could be sentenced to "2000 years" in jail.

In the trial, which began in February at Vannes in the western region of Brittany, Le Scouarnec admitted to sexually assaulting or raped 299 patients (of which 256) in hospitals between 1989 and 2014, many awakened under anesthesia or after surgery.

He has been charged with 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults.

During the trial in March, Le Scouarnec admitted that there was no plea for him to sexually abuse his granddaughter, even though she was not one of the victims charged in the case.

The former surgeon stood up and addressed the court when his eldest son had not yet been used in the trial.

"It's possible, almost certainly, that I saw my son last time because I heard his anger and his pain," Le Scouarnec told the court that day. "I respect that anger, and it's a good foundation. Yes, I admit to abuse of my granddaughter, his daughter."

Then he turned to his son and said, "Forgive me."

Survivors of surgeon abuse protested outside the court in Vaness and held signs such as “Never Re-Re-I Reprimand You.”

They also hold signs representing 355 Le Scouarnec victims.

That number includes “forgotten victims and victims of dismissed cases,” said one of the victims, Mannon Lemoin.

"We want to be together," she said.

Another victim, Celine Mahuteau, wrote a letter to President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, saying France has not implemented a national policy of "preventing pedophiles."

"I'm not going to be leniency with the court," Le Scouarnec said in his closing remarks on Monday.

"Just give me the right to be a better person," he said.

One of the lawyers, Maxime Tessier, asked the court to take into account the "special" nature of Le Scouarnec's confession, when he admitted all charges against him.

The retired surgeon also said he believes he is "responsible" for the deaths of two victims - Mathis Vinet, who died in 2021 due to what his family said was suicide, while another man was found dead in 2020.

Le Scouarnec recorded his crimes, pointing out the name, age, address and nature of the abuse of the victim.

In his notes, the doctor describes himself as a “significant pervert” and a “pedophile.”

“I’m very happy with it,” he recorded.

Victims and child rights advocates say the case highlights the system's failure that has led to Le Scouarnec's repeated sexual crimes.

In 2005, he was sentenced to four months of suspension after investigators linked credit cards to online purchases of child sexual abuse materials.

But Le Scouarnec needs neither treatment nor is he prohibited from engaging in medical treatment.

Although Le Scouarnec asked for forgiveness from the victims, many of them questioned the sincerity of his apology, which he had almost mechanically repeated during the weeks of the trial.

"You are the worst pedophile ever," said a lawyer representing the victim Thomas Delaby.

Some were frustrated that the trial had no effect on the France they hoped.

The case has not won attention yet Dominique PelicotLast year, he was sentenced to jail for recruiting dozens of strangers to rape his ex-wife Gisele.

But Health Minister Yannick Neuder said Wednesday he will work with Attorney General Gerald Darmanin to ensure “we will never find ourselves affected by predators in the case of patients and vulnerable children.”

He told the broadcaster France information that we would never say anything again. ” “How did we get into this situation? ”