FRANCE’S most notorious child rapist has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after the disgraceful doctor exploited nearly 300 patients and boasted in a diary about being a “proud” paedophile.

Corrupt Joel Le Scouarnec, aged 73, a former surgeon, confessed to committing at least 299 ghastly crimes against victims, primarily under the age of 15, with the youngest being merely four years old.

Many of the monster’s victims were under the effects of anaesthesia or recovering from surgery, prosecutors said.

On Wednesday, Le Scouarnec sat without emotion as the jury at the Morbihan Criminal Court, in Brittany, declared him guilty of 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults.

Presiding Judge Aude Burési in turn sentenced him to “twenty years in prison” with a minimum two-thirds term without the possibility of parole “to prevent re-offending”.

The offences took place between 1989 and 2014,  while other alleged crimes were not prosecuted because they happened too long ago.

During a three-month trial, the court heard how Le Scourarnec mainly abused patients while they were still under anaesthetic, or slowly waking up following operations.

Thomas Delaby, a barrister representing one of his victims, told Le Scourarnec he is “the worst mass paedophile who ever lived” and “an atomic bomb of paedophilia”

He added: “Your victims will never forgive you.”

Speaking just before the verdict, Le Scourarnec said: “I’m not asking the court for leniency. Simply grant me the right to become a better person.”

The defendant also explained how he had caused the the deaths of at least two of his victims.

Le Scouarnec said: “I am responsible for the deaths of Mathis Vinet, who died after an overdose in 2021” and Alan Roux, who was found hanged at his home in 2020.

In turn, prosecutors who had heard Le Scouarnec described as “France’s worst ever paedophile” said he was “a devil” and there was “a very high risk” of him re-offending if ever allowed out of his cell.

Stéphane Kellenberger, the Attorney General, said his proven crimes were committed against 158 males and 141 females, with an average age of 11.

Requesting a “maximum possible sentence of twenty years” for Le Scouarnec, Mr Kellenberger said there needed to be “additional security measures,” because of the danger Le Scourarnec still posed.

The former surgeon is already serving 15 years behind bars after he was found guilty in 2020 of raping and sexually assaulting four young girls.

Two of these victims were his nieces, one was his neighbour, and the fourth was a former patient of his.

He stopped working at the hospital and was arrested in 2017 when his six-year-old neighbour reported being raped.

After his 2017 arrest, investigators made shocking discoveries at his home, including the repulsive diary where he detailed sexual acts with children.

The monster doctor described himself as an “exhibitionist, voyeur, sadist, masochist, scatologist, fetishist, pedophile”.

Every year on his birthday Le Scouarnec would record his age and write a vile message to himself.

He wrote: “I am a paedophile and I am proud of it.”

His diaries reportedly described the apparent crimes in great detail and without an ounce of regret or empathy.

He also included the children’s names, the date he allegedly abused them, and where it happened.

Le Scouarnec denied these words were a reality and claimed they were just his sick “fantasies”.

Cops also discovered horrifying child-sized sex dolls, some of them chained up, and over 300,000 child abuse images were discovered.

Those watching Le Scouarnec intently today as the verdict was read out included many of his victims.

They want the authorities, who they say should have stopped Le Scouarnec earlier, to answer for the scandal.

In comments that have been published and broadcast across France, victims called for Le Scouarnec’s ex-wife to be prosecuted too.

Marie-Caroline Arrighi, a spokesman for four victims, said outside court: “She knew. Marie-France Le Scouarnec knew and protected her husband.”

Calling the couple “evil,” Ms Arrighi added: “Reporting sexual crimes and offenses against minors is a legal obligation.”

The Lorient public prosecutor’s office has opened two new investigations into Le Scouarnec’s professional career, which ended in 2017.

They include “possibly unidentified and newly reported victims” of sexual abuse and rape.

WIFE ‘COVERED UP DRUG AND RAPE HORROR’

His wife, Marie-France Le Scouarnec, was also portrayed as a ruthless accomplice, while denying any wrongdoing.

She spent her days taking lovers and going to aquaerobics, while her once highly respected surgeon husband repeatedly attacked children, it was alleged.

Ms Le Scouarnec, the mother of his three sons, lived with him throughout that time, and has always denied knowing what he was doing.

But Patrick Le Scouarnec, the 70-year-old brother of the defendant, told the court that she was being untruthful.

“There is another person who could have ensured that my brother was arrested – it is his wife, Marie-France,” said Mr Le Scouarnec.

Victims of Le Scouarnec have also accused Ms Le Scouarnec of covering up his ‘paedocriminal activities’ for decades.

Ms Le Scouarnec said: “I wondered how I could have not noticed anything. It’s a terrible betrayal that he committed against me and my children.”

VICTIMS ‘DISAPPOINTED’

Victims of Le Scouarnec immediately expressed their disappointment that the “atomic bomb paedophile” could only be imprisoned for 20 years.

Francesca Satta, a lawyer representing civil parties involved in the case, said: “Twenty years is a short time considering the number of victims involved.

“It’s time for the law to be changed so that more appropriate sentences can be handed down.

“At the moment we cannot go beyond the legal texts.”

The Le Scouarnec case has certainly exposed the lax controls France has of determined paedophiles in positions of authority.