Woman says 20 firefighters raped her for two years when she was 13 in France: two admit they had ‘group sex’ while on duty and wore their uniforms
- A woman in France claimed she was raped by 20 firefighters over 2 years
- She claims she was only 13 when a fireman started treating her
- Ten years later, three men were charged with sexual assault
- The case sparked protests and new calls for the introduction of an age of sexual consent
A woman in France claimed that she was raped by 20 firefighters over a two-year period, from 13 to 15 years old.
The woman, now 25, said she was cared for by a fireman who helped her during an anxiety attack in 2008.
Ten years after the alleged abuse, three men have been charged with sexual assault and the country’s highest court is expected to rule on the case on Wednesday.
The case of the alleged victim, who was dubbed ‘Julie’ by the French media, sparked protests in France, with activists demanding that an age of sexual consent should be enshrined in the law.
Dozens of people gathered at Place Saint-Michel to demand ‘Justice for Julie’ on Sunday
Under French law, there is a ‘sexual adulthood’ at age 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot be considered to have consent, which means that a child is not necessarily considered a victim of rape.
It is a crime for someone in a position of authority to have sex with a person under the age of 18.
In contrast, in the UK, sex with children under 13 is legal rape.
Protests erupted across France over the weekend in support of women.
Julie claims that a fireman named Pierre started preparing her at the age of 13, before she was raped by him and 19 of his colleagues over a two-year period.
In January 2009, Pierre reportedly visited Julie’s house and raped her while her mother was walking the dog.
Julie told investigators that in November 2009, Pierre, while wearing a full uniform, allegedly took Julie to her apartment, where two colleagues came and started gang-raping her.
Under French law, there is a ‘sexual majority’ at age 15, but there is no age below which a minor cannot be considered to have consent. Above, protests in Paris on Sunday
At least three of the firefighters admitted to having had sex with the then teenager, although they maintain that the sex was consensual.
Julie said she was ‘terrified and paralyzed with fear’ at the time.
The men visited his home 130 times in two years, according to a report by The Guardian.
The girl’s mother told investigators that she had no idea what was going on. “I even made cake for the firefighters,” she said.
About Pierre, she said: ‘I thought he was the last person to do such a thing, because he helped her so many times and saw how vulnerable she was.’
Julie’s mental and physical health deteriorated after the alleged assaults, and she received anxiolytic drugs.
After suspending her medication in July 2010, Julie revealed the abuse to her mother, who filed a police report.
Dozens of people gathered this Sunday at Place Saint-Michel to demand “Justice for Julie”
His case was taken to the country’s Supreme Court of Appeal and will be concluded on Wednesday.
Currently, three men are accused of ‘sexual rape’, although prosecutors argue that all 20 men should be convicted of rape.
In France, the maximum penalty for sexual assault is seven years, compared with 20 for rape.
To file charges of rape in France, the claimant must prove that she was forced or violently coerced.
The victim’s legal defender, Marjolaine Vignola, said: ‘The whole stereotype about rape is in this case: The judges and the psychiatrist say that Julie is a liar, that she has consented to have sex with all those men and that she is lying about being raped because she’s ashamed. ‘