One of the men who was convicted of raping Gisèle Pelicot has been handed a stricter jail term after losing an appeal against his conviction in court.
Husamettin Dogan, 44, was one of 51 men convicted of raping Ms Pelicot while she was drugged unconscious by her ex-husband.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison last December. Dogan is the only man of those convicted to appeal their sentence.
The 44-year-old construction worker denies he intended to rape Ms Pelicot, arguing that her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, deceived him.
On Thursday, the court of appeal in Nimes, southern France, rejected his argument and extended his prison sentence to ten years.
Dogan was tried on charges of aggravated rape by administering substances that impair judgment or self-control, an offence punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Ms Pelicot entered the courthouse on Monday under police escort, smiling as she shook hands with supporters who shouted “Thank you!” and other words of encouragement.
In the original proceedings, Ms Pelicot’s ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission.
Dominique Pelicot, who was caught after police found he filmed the assaults, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Sentences for other defendants ranged from three to 15 years in prison.
The trial drew international attention after Ms Pelicot opposed a closed hearing, a demand made by several defendants.
She has since become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence, and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France.
Civil proceedings in the southern French city of Avignon are due in November to settle damages owed to Gisèle Pelicot and her family, to be paid jointly by the convicted men.
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