France puts 66 on trial for paedophilia ring

FRANCE opened one of its biggest and most horrific paedophilia trials yesterday, where babies and children were allegedly raped, sexually abused and prostituted by their parents for small sums of money, food parcels and cigarettes.

Sixty-six defendants, some facing up to life imprisonment, were brought before a court in Angers, western France, that was specially built to hold them all. One by one, the 39 men and 27 women were asked to stand and give their age, profession and address.

Investigators found that 45 children - aged from six months to 14 years - were raped and sexually abused from 1999 to 2002 by their parents or others who paid money or food. People who are thought to have worn masks while they raped the children are still feared to be at large.