'I am a rapist': Man accused of drugging his wife and letting 50 men rape her admits crimes

The man accused of drugging his wife and letting at least 50 men rape her while she was sedated has told a French court: "I am a rapist."

Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing

Dominique Pelicot appeared in court today as he gave evidence in the case that has shocked France.

According to local media, the 71-year-old defendant told the court: "I admit to the charges in their entirety."

He added: "I am a rapist just like all the others in this room."

Pelicot is said to have cleaned his wife's body after the attacks and given the men orders so she would not wake, including warming their hands, not wearing aftershave or smelling of cigarette smoke.

The couple have been married for decades and have three children, but the man was allegedly putting a powerful drug in his wife's food to knock her out prior to the attacks.

Pelicot, whose appearance was delayed due to health issues, told the court that his now ex-wife "did not deserve this".

Gisele Pelicot arrives at court in Avignon.

Gisele Pelicot listened attentively to her ex-husband as he spoke, looking at him. At the end of this statement, she lowered her head, putting her sunglasses back on.

"For me it is difficult to hear it," she said when she was given the opportunity to respond. "For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would never have imagined for a single second could do these things. I had complete confidence in this man."

Pelicot is then asked to react: "I am guilty of what I did." He added: "I regret what I did, I ask for forgiveness even if it is not forgivable."

Pelicot faces charges including rape, gang rape and various privacy breaches by recording and disseminating sexual images.

Prosecutors have said Pelicot offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. In addition to Pelicot, 50 other men accused of rape are also on trial.

Pelicot told the courtroom he had had a difficult upbringing and had been a victim of rape himself.

Some of the other defendants have said they believed Gisele Pelicot was pretending to be asleep and had in fact consented to sex. If found guilty, the defendants face up to 20 years in jail.

-SKY NEWS