I don't love my kids, paedophile accused tells court

The accused leader of a massive French paedophilia ring, who is accused of sexually abusing his grandchildren, coldly a court today: “My kids, I don’t love them.”

The trial of 66 people accused of involvement in the rape, sexual abuse and forced prostitution of children, including some too young to walk, moved into a new phase with the grandfather and other suspects facing detailed questions about their background and personal histories.

The grandfather, who was previously convicted of raping his son, faces life imprisonment on charges of rape and sexual abuse of minors. Under French law, he can only be identified as Philippe V to preserve the anonymity of his alleged child victims.

“What sort of a father and what sort of a grandfather are you?” Alain Fouquet, a lawyer for some victims, asked the defendant.

Without hesitation, the 61-year-old replied: “My kids, I don’t love them. I never took care of them. I didn’t give a damn.” His daughter, Lydia, left the Angers courtroom in tears.

The son of Philippe V, Franck, was questioned next. Much of the suspected abuse allegedly took place in his apartment on a council housing estate in Angers, 165 miles south-west of Paris.

Investigators say 45 children – between the ages of six months and 14 years - were abused by their parents or their acquaintances from 1999 to 2002, in some cases in exchange for small amounts of money, food, cigarettes or alcohol.

“After what I heard, I’m asking myself lots of questions about my parents,” said Franck, 36. “Why did my father have us?”

He faces 20 years in prison if convicted of raping, sexually abusing and forcing his children into prostitution. The wife of Franck, Patricia, was among other suspects expected to face questioning tomorrow.

Philippe V was convicted in 1991 of raping Franck. “What’s done is done. I was convicted,” Philippe V told the court.

When the head judge asked him if he himself had ever been a victim of sexual abuse, he replied: “No. No. I said yes at the first trial but it’s not true.”