Gisele Pelicot, the French woman whose ex-husband orchestrated years of drugging and sexual assaults against her by dozens of men, appeared in court on Monday for an appeal hearing filed by one of the convicted offenders who insists he “never intended" to rape her.

The case, which exposed a chilling pattern of systematic sexual abuse and manipulation, initially led to the conviction of 51 men, including Pelicot’s former husband, Dominique Pelicot, following a landmark trial that concluded in December last year.

The appeal was lodged by Husamettin Dogan, 44, the only defendant to maintain his challenge. “I never wanted to rape this woman, whom I respect," Dogan told the court, claiming he had no criminal intent.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, who waived her right to anonymity during the first trial

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