VANNES (France), May 9 -- Ever since the start of one of France's largest child sex abuse trials, victims of a French paedophile surgeon have said they just want him to acknowledge their suffering and sincerely ask them for forgiveness.

But instead, a blank-faced Joel Le Scouarnec has used the courtroom in the western city of Vannes as a "stage for his perversion", playing "staring games" with former child patients, several told AFP.

Le Scouarnec, 74, went on trial in February accused of 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults at a dozen hospitals in western France.

He has admitted to all charges and asked his victims for forgiveness.

But they say they do not believe him, saying that his words sound hollow.

In court, Le Scouarnec has remai...