A former surgeon in France, Joël Le Scouarnec, has confessed to committing numerous acts of sexual abuse against patients, mainly children, during a trial that marks the largest of its kind in French history.

The 74-year-old, addressing the court in Vannes, stated, "I have committed despicable acts" and expressed awareness of the lasting impact of his actions on victims' lives.

Le Scouarnec is accused of assaulting 299 individuals, with the majority being under the age of 15, between 1989 and 2014. His admissions come as part of a trial where he faces charges of rape and sexual assault, predominantly against minors, many of whom were either anesthetized or recovering from surgery at the time of the alleged offenses.

The court heard that police were able to identify numerous victims from meticulously kept diaries in which Le Scouarnec supposedly documented the assaults throughout his career.

The youngest of the victims was just one year old when the abuse allegedly occurred.

During the proceedings, which focus on the extensive nature of the abuse and systemic failures allowing it to occur, Le Scouarnec has already been imprisoned since 2017 for past offenses involving four children.

He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for these crimes in a 2020 conviction.

Public prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger highlighted the unusual circumstances surrounding the exposure of the abuse, noting that investigators proactively approached victims after discovering their names in Le Scouarnec’s records.

"Many of them had no memory...

several would have rather gone on not knowing.

But silence had reigned for too long," Kellenberger said.

Detailed testimonies from the victims are anticipated during the trial, which is projected to last four months.

The court was informed that Le Scouarnec's abuse occurred across various hospitals in Brittany, where he worked in both private and public capacities.

In addition to his admissions regarding the abuse, Le Scouarnec's own writings have come under scrutiny, where he allegedly referred to himself as a paedophile.

Investigations into Le Scouarnec's background indicate multiple warnings about his behavior and potential criminal activity.

In 2005, the FBI alerted French authorities regarding his access to child abuse websites, which led to a suspended sentence without subsequent action from health authorities or his employer.

Reports indicate that he continued to work in pediatric environments despite this history.

As the trial progresses, more than 60 lawyers are representing the victims, while various psychological support measures are being implemented for those giving testimony.

On the day of the trial's commencement, demonstrations occurred outside the courthouse, with activists aiming to raise awareness about child abuse and the systemic failures that permit such acts.

The case has sparked significant public outrage and demands for accountability within medical institutions, with the professional body for doctors in France, L'Ordre des Médecins, facing criticism for its handling of prior allegations against Le Scouarnec.

The trial is set to examine not just the actions of Le Scouarnec, but also oversight and accountability within the medical profession related to child protection.