The Pelicot Trial: How a Husband Drugged His Wife and Invited Dozens of Men to Rape Her
In one of France’s most harrowing criminal cases in decades, Dominique Pelicot was convicted in 2025 for systematically drugging his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and inviting strangers—sometimes multiple men in a single night—to rape her while she was unconscious. The case, which shocked the nation and sparked a reckoning over spousal consent and digital predation, unfolded over more than a decade before culminating in a landmark verdict.
Who Is Gisèle Pelicot?
Gisèle Pelicot, now in her 70s, was a retired school cafeteria worker living a quiet life in the southern French town of Mazan with her husband of over 50 years. That life was shattered when she discovered in 2021 that Dominique had been slipping her sleeping pills for years—and using online forums to recruit men to assault her.
Her courage in coming forward triggered a massive investigation that identified 72 men who participated in the assaults, many of whom were also convicted alongside Dominique.
Timeline of the Pelicot Trial and Abuse
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Dominique Pelicot begins secretly drugging Gisèle to render her unconscious. |
| 2011–2020 | Over 90 confirmed assaults occur at the Pelicot home; Dominique posts on dark web forums like “La Garçonnière” seeking men for “consensual group encounters”—without Gisèle’s knowledge. |
| September 2021 | Gisèle notices strange bruises and memory gaps; she installs a hidden camera in her bedroom. |
| October 2021 | Footage reveals Dominique guiding strangers into their home while she’s unconscious. She alerts police. |
| November 2021 | Dominique arrested; digital evidence uncovers messages, photos, and a list of 72 accomplices. |
| March–June 2024 | Historic trial begins in Avignon; Gisèle testifies live, watched by millions across France. |
| June 2024 | Dominique sentenced to 20 years; 50 of the 72 co-defendants also convicted, with sentences ranging from suspended terms to 18 years. |
| October 2025 | Appeals conclude; convictions upheld. Gisèle becomes a symbol of survivor advocacy. |
How Did This Go Undetected for So Long?
Experts say Gisèle’s age, traditional marriage role, and Dominique’s manipulation created a perfect storm of invisibility. He controlled her medications, isolated her socially, and exploited societal assumptions that older women aren’t targets of sexual violence.
“This wasn’t just betrayal—it was weaponized intimacy,” said Dr. Laurence Cohen, a forensic psychologist who testified at the trial. “He turned their home into a crime scene.”
Legal and Social Impact in France
The Pelicot case prompted immediate reforms:
- France criminalized non-consensual drugging as a distinct offense in 2023.
- Parliament passed the “Gisèle Law”, expanding protections for victims of spousal sexual violence.
- Police launched a national task force to investigate similar online predator networks.
Gisèle has since become an unlikely public figure—speaking at universities, meeting with lawmakers, and publishing a memoir titled “I Woke Up”. “I didn’t just survive,” she told a crowd in Paris. “I reclaimed my truth.”
Why This Case Matters Beyond France
While the scale is extreme, the Pelicot case reflects global patterns of intimate partner sexual violence often hidden behind closed doors. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence—most often by someone they know.
What made Gisèle’s story different was her refusal to stay silent—and the digital trail that left no room for denial.
