Monster of Avignon Dominique Pelicot covers his face on the way to court as he is pictured for the first time since his arrest over mass rape of his drugged wife

This is the first picture of Monster of Avignon Dominique Pelicot taken since his arrest for the mass rape of his wife by strangers he met on the internet.

For the past five weeks the retired electrician has been driven under armed guard to the Vaucluse Criminal Court where is accused of masterminding the sex case that has shocked the world.

Protected by motorcycle outriders and driven in a marked prison van directly into court compound, Pelicot has been shielded from the growing public outcry at the unimaginable betrayal of his wife Gisele.

Pelicot has admitted drugging her evening meal and glass of rose wine to render her unconscious and then inviting dozens of men to rape his wife in their marital bed at their home in a picturesque village in the south of France over ten years.

But the 71-year-old has refused to be photographed as he sat in the dock to listen as the case against him and 50 men police identified as his accomplices is heard.

The retired electrician has been driven under armed guard to the Vaucluse Criminal Court throughout the trial, in a case which has shocked the world

Gisele Pelicot is seen arriving at court this morning, accompanied by her legal team

Dominique Pélicot is accused of recruiting men online to assault his wife repeatedly over 10 years

However, despite holding up his hands to hide his jowly face Pelicot has been unmasked as one of France’s worst sex offenders and dubbed the Monster of Avignon.

This morning the grey-haired grandfather returned to the dock, wearing a white shirt, grey cardigan and blue trousers to listen as seven of his accomplices were interrogated about their role in this sordid affair.

The case continues to rock France, with many thousands taking to the streets in support of the victim.

Most of the defendants deny being rapists and claim they were ‘tricked’ by Pelicot who told them his wife had agreed to take part in a sex game in which she pretended to be asleep during the sex.

Detectives discovered some 20,000 graphic images that he had collected of the rape of his wife when he was arrested in 2020, after he was caught taking photos up the skirts of women at his local supermarket. 

This week,  seven men – including a hospital nurse, a builder, a pastry chef – will give evidence in the trial, which is expected to last until the end of the year.