Man raped his canine and disabled son with the pooch now recognised as a sufferer by courts
In a shocking first, a 60-year-old man has been jailed for 10 years and ordered to pay a hefty fine after his dog Sultane, a Jack Russell terrier, was officially recognised as a victim of sexual abuse
A horrifying court case has seen an innocent and defenseless dog officially recognised as a victim of abuse(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A horrifying court case has seen an innocent and defenseless dog officially recognised as a victim of abuse. Sultane, a 10-year-old female Jack Russell, suffered six years of horrific sexual violence at the hands of her owner.
The disgraced man, also found guilty of abusing his disabled son, was sentenced to a decade in prison. He will also have to pay thousands of euros for what is now being called “animal prejudice”, a legal recognition of the suffering animals can endure.
This landmark decision marks the first time a criminal court has granted such status to an animal. On February 13, the criminal court in Douai, northern France, handed down a 10-year prison sentence to the 60-year-old pervert.
Unbeknownst to Sultane, she helped set the 20-year-old disabled man free from his tyrannical father. For years, Sultane endured repeated sexual abuse at the hands of her owner, unable to alert anyone to her suffering.
It was only when the owner’s son caught his father in the act of abusing the dog that the disturbing truth finally came to light. In the wake of these revelations, which the victim shared with a neighbour, the young man also found the courage to speak out for the first time about the abuse he had also suffered.
The revolting dad was sentenced by the Douai criminal court in northern France. According to Graziella Dode, a barrister from Lille, this sentence may seem “lenient” given the gravity of the offences committed by the man. However, for Ms Dode, the trial was above all an opportunity to have Sultane officially recognised as a victim, French news outlet 20 Minutes reported.
During the two-day trial, the accused denied any sexual or paedophilic tendencies and did not provide any explanation for his acts. Nevertheless, a veterinary behaviourist gave expert testimony about the suffering endured by Sultane.
They said: “There are both physical and psychological after-effects. In Sultane’s case, we are talking about six years of horror.”
“An animal is not an object,” insisted Ms Dode, an expert in animal law. The court also ordered the man to pay €2,000 (about £1,700) in compensation.
Sultane’s case is a first in French criminal court, as it also involved the owner’s son, who was himself a victim of abuse. “Sultane, being a dog, could never have raised the alarm herself,” explained Dode, French news outlet Midi Libre reported.
“It was thanks to the courage of the son, who was also a victim, that the truth came out.” Dode explained.
She said: “Animal prejudice is the direct or indirect harm caused to an animal as a result of an offence. I request it in cases of serious abuse, where significant animal suffering can be demonstrated.”
The court also awarded an additional €2,000 (about £1,700) in recognition of the emotional and psychological harm suffered, bringing the total compensation to €4,000 (about £3,400), all of which will be paid to an animal protection association. This money is also intended to help cover the costs of Sultane’s care and rehabilitation.
Since her rescue in 2023, Sultane has been adopted and now lives in a loving home. In the UK, cases of extreme sexual abuse against animals are prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as bestiality.
The penalties for animal cruelty increased to up to five years in prison under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. Courts, which recognise animals as sentient, apply aggravating factors for sadistic behaviour and can impose life bans on animal ownership alongside compensation for rehabilitation costs.
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