Disturbing footage has surfaced of Dominique Pélicot, 71, also known as the ‘Monster of Avignon,’ being caught by police engaging in upskirting in a French supermarket.
Pélicot, currently on trial at the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon, faces serious charges, including allegations that he invited 72 men he met online to sexually assault his wife, Gisèle, at their home in Mazan, southern France, over nine years. Prosecutors claim Pélicot would secretly drug his wife’s dinner with anxiety-reducing substances to keep her unconscious.
The trial includes 51 of the alleged rapists, aged between 26 and 73. Recent revelations include disturbing footage of Pélicot captured on September 12, 2020, in a Leclerc supermarket in southeastern France. In the footage, Pélicot, wearing a face mask, uses a camera to record women’s skirts. The video shows him being confronted by a security guard following complaints from several customers. He is then labelled as ‘disgusting’ and instructed to stay put until authorities arrive.
𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗙
Voici les images exclusives de l’interpellation de Dominique Pelicot quand il filmait sous les jupes de clients d'un supermarché, le 12 septembre 2020 à Carpentras.
Sans l’intervention du vigile, ce jour-là, l’affaire dite des viols de #Mazan n’aurait… pic.twitter.com/nV89DRlQm1
— Paris Match (@ParisMatch) September 13, 2024
Initially fined €100 (£85) as part of a plea bargain, further investigations uncovered a folder on Pélicot’s device labelled ‘abuse,’ containing thousands of incriminating photos and videos allegedly depicting his unconscious wife being raped.
In court last week, Gisèle Pélicot faced her former husband for the first time, revealing her emotional turmoil. She described a deep despair, saying, “I only wanted one thing, and that was to disappear.” She recounted her fear of self-harm and her children’s concern, describing their reactions to her distressing revelations.
The trial has also brought forth additional allegations, including claims from Pélicot’s daughter-in-law, Aurore Lemaire, 37. She testified that Pélicot had made a disturbing proposition to her young daughter, suggesting she pose naked in exchange for a toy.
The trial is ongoing, with Pélicot’s heinous actions and their impact on his victims continuing to unfold.
