Policeman says French paedophilia case scarred him

A policeman told a French paedophilia trial today that the ordeal suffered by the children involved was so horrific that he asked his superiors to take him off investigations involving minors.

Philippe Perez, whose work included questioning some of the 45 child victims, said he was particularly disturbed by the testimony of a boy who was sodomised repeatedly.

In court in Angers, he spoke of the “suffering and the ordeal” endured by the children.

Asked by a lawyer for some of the victims if working the case marked him, Perez replied: “Yes. That’s why I refused to carry on with the hearings. I was affected psychologically.”

After more than two years of investigating the abuse, he asked for a transfer in April 2004 out of the police unit that investigates crimes involving minors, he testified.

In all, 66 people are accused of involvement in the paedophilia network in Angers, 165 miles south-west of Paris.

Investigators say 45 children – aged six months to 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.

Hearings with the children were filmed, Perez said.

“I won the child’s trust. We had a games room,” he said

The filmed testimony of children – who will not appear in court – is to be heard in court starting April 12.

If convicted, defendants face prison sentences ranging from three years to life. The trial is expected to end in July.