A retired French surgeon, who sexually abused hundreds of young patients over more than two decades, received a 20-year jail sentence on Wednesday.

In France's worst ever child abuse case to go to trial, Joel Le Scouarnec stood accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault of 299 victims, including the rape of some children who were under anaesthetic.

The 74-year-old told the court he had committed "despicable acts" over a 25-year period while working as a doctor in western France.

His trial shocked France and raised uncomfortable questions for its publicly run healthcare system about how he was allowed to continue abusing his young patients for so long.

Presiding Judge Aude Buresi, whose voice at times appeared to choke with emotion, said Le Scouarnec had preyed on victims at their most vulnerable, including whilst under anaesthesia.

"Your acts were a blind spot in the medical world, to the extent that your colleagues, the medical authorities, were incapable of stopping your actions," the judge told him.

Le Scouarnec is already serving jail time for earlier rape convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbour, as well as his two nieces and a four-year-old patient.

The judge barred Le Scouarnec from practising medicine or having contact with minors. The court also ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register. (Reuters)