BRAVERY AMIDST SUCH HORROR

The Woman's Own columnist has her say on dinner time, posh grub and wet summers

How can a husband and father do such a heinous thing?

It’s one of the most chilling stories of a marriage ever. A horror story that took place in a quaint village just outside a beautiful Provençal town famous for endless sunshine, beautiful lavender, quaint cobbled streets and chilled rosé wine.

A holiday destination – a holy site, the so-called Palace of Popes. Yet in the anonymous court building of Avignon, a tale of evil so vile has been unveiled to not just a shocked and horrified France, but to the rest of the world. The tale of a wife, Gisèle Pélicot, who, it is alleged, had been drugged unconscious by her husband Dominique and raped more than 90 times by 72 men – 50 of whom have been identified – over nearly 10 years.

Dominique lived out his sick fantasies by allowing strangers he met via swingers social media pages to abuse his wife of many years in whatever way they pleased, while he filmed them.

Gisèle, a now 72-year-old mum and grandmother, could have chosen for the trial of her husband and alleged rapists to be behind closed doors. Instead, this stunningly brave woman has waived her right to remain anonymous so her story can be told.

The trial is expected to last until December and the accused rapists, who range in age from mid-20s to 70s, come from all walks of society – gardeners, journalists, firefighters… ordinary men leading so-called ordinary lives.

Dominique’s crimes only came to light when he was arrested for ‘up-skirting’ in a local supermarket. When the police searched his computer, they found scores of rape and sexual abuse clips that left even hardened detectives sickened.