Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Avignon

Image source, Getty Images

After 16 weeks, the Pelicot trial is over.

This morning's session was shorter than many had anticipated, with the court president, Roger Arata, whizzing through the guilty verdicts he and four other judges handed down to the 51 defendants, and then separately spelling out the sentencing for each of them.

Before midday, this trial - which has captured people in France and beyond - was over.

Gisèle Pelicot was just an anonymous retired French grandmother when she first walked into the door of the Avignon tribunal. Few journalists were waiting for her then.

Today, when she descended the steps of the courthouse for the last time, she was a feminist icon.

Well over a hundred journalists followed her every move as she put her hand to her heart and smiled wordlessly, thanking the crowds of supporters who chanted out her name.

When her car drove off, supporters wiped off their tears. Their gratitude for this diminutive but extraordinary woman was palpable.

She will be remembered for a long time.

We're ending our live coverage now, but you can read our full write up here. This page was edited by Emily McGarvey and Emily Atkinson. The writers were Laura Gozzi in Avignon, and Ben Hatton, Alex Smith, Ian Aikman and Asya Robins in London.

• If you have been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

Image source, EPA

• Dominique Pelicot, 72, was found guilty of aggravated rape, receiving the maximum sentence of 20 years, after he drugged and abused his then wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and invited dozens of strangers to rape her
• Judges in the French city of Avignon sentenced him alongside 50 other men, of whom 47 were found guilty of rape, two guilty of attempted rape, and two guilty of sexual assault
• Sentences for the other men ranged from three to 15 years
• The trial heard how for almost a decade Gisèle was unknowingly given sedatives by her ex-husband, who then raped her and invited men he recruited online to have sex with her in her bed at home while she was unconscious
• Gisèle Pelicot, 72, addressed the media after the hearing ended, saying she never regretted waiving her right to anonymity and "opening the doors" of the trial "so society could see what was happening"

• The Pelicot children were "disappointed" by the "low" sentences handed down, the AFP news agency quoted a family member as saying
• The trial has shocked France and the wider world, and made Gisèle a feminist icon – she was met by hundreds of supporters as she left the court, many holding placards emblazoned with one of the core slogans of the trial: "Shame changes sides"

Today marks the end of an historic case which saw judges in the French city of Avignon sentence Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape after he drugged and abused his then wife, Gisèle Pelicot.

Of the 50 other men who were on trial, 46 were found guilty of rape, two guilty of attempted rape, and two guilty of sexual assault.

Here's a look back at how the morning unfolded, in pictures:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Gett

Image source, Benoit Peyrucq

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

The impact and reach this trial has had is evident in the international reaction. Here are the words of more European leaders:

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says "shame must change sides".

In a message to Gisèle, Scholz says: "You courageously went from anonymity to public and fought for justice. You gave women around the world a strong voice. The shame always lies with the perpetrator," he posts on X, adding: "Thank you, Gisèle Pelicot."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has also posted on X, saying: "Such dignity. Thank you, Gisèle Pelicot. Let shame change sides."

Maria Zaccaro
BBC 100 Women

We’ve just heard Gisèle Pelicot thanking her supporters and telling other victims “we have the same struggle".

As she leaves court, rape survivors from across the world have begun sending her messages of support and admiration.

Nobel Peace Price winner Nadia Murad tells BBC 100 Women Gisèle is redefining the relationship between rape and shame.

In a message to Gisèle, Murad says: “I am in awe of your courage. You are not alone.”

Argentine actress Thelma Fardin says she is moved to know that, despite coming from different cultures, there’s something that cuts across both of their stories - the will to change the stigma surrounding victims.

Meanwhile, Scottish campaigner and rape survivor Ellie Wilson says Gisèle has “an army of women behind her”.

Image source, Nadia’s Initiative

We're starting to see reactions from French politicians coming in on social media.

Marie Lebec, an MP and spokesperson for President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling alliance, says her thoughts are with Gisèle Pelicot.

"Her courage, her dignity, her example. Huge respect for this woman, whose courage shines far beyond this trial. Let us hope that, following her example, we will always better protect women against sexual violence," she says.

Manuel Bompard, the national coordinator of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, says "the Mazan rape trial will remain a historic trial".

"It must be a turning point in the fight against the rape culture that is eating away at society as a whole. Admiration for Gisèle Pelicot, her courage, her strength and her determination. Thank you, Madam," he says.

Valérie Pécresse, president of the regional council of the Île-de-France and a member of Les Républicains, says: "Infinite respect for Gisèle Pélicot who stood tall, dignified and admirably courageous in the face of her tormentors, notably the predator whose life she shared for decades."

"Her refusal to hold a closed trial so that 'shame changes side' is a service to society and a signal sent to millions of young girls and women to encourage them to no longer remain silent in the face of assaults, rapes and all forms of sexist and sexual violence."

Dr Laurent Layet is the psychiatrist who first examined Dominique Pelicot when he was initially arrested for filming up women's skirts at a local supermarket.

Pelicot was today jailed for 20 years after drugging his ex-wife and recruiting strangers to rape her for years.

Layet explains how an otherwise seemingly ordinary man could commit these crimes:

Gisèle Pelicot's supporters have been standing outside the court in Avignon since this morning, many of them singing, chanting and holding up banners.

"Shame changes sides" has been a key slogan - words delivered by Gisèle when she took the extraordinary step to waive her right to anonymity and open the trial to the public.

Image source, Benoit Peyrucq

This is the first court sketch of Dominique Pelicot from today's hearing.

The ex-husband of Gisèle, he was earlier sentenced to 20 years in jail. Fifty other men were sentenced alongside him, with sentences ranging from three to 15 years.

The crimes against Gisèle Pelicot took place in the seemingly idyllic village of Mazan in the south of France.

Gisèle was raped by dozens of men over the course of almost ten years - all unbeknown to her and at the invitation of her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who had sedated her to the point of unconsciousness by putting drugs in her food.

He found the men online, and admitted his guilt. This morning he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his crimes.

BBC Paris correspondent Andrew Harding has been to Mazan, and has been following the trial in the nearby city of Avignon.

In this programme, he asks what this case tells us about France, and whether in the age of the internet, these crimes could be happening anywhere.

Fifty-One Frenchmen, presented by Andrew Harding, is available now on BBC Sounds.

We can bring you more images now of the scene as Gisèle Pelicot left the courthouse a few moments ago.

She was met by a large crowd of journalists as well as those there to show their support.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Harding
Paris correspondent, in court in Avignon

Image source, Benoit Peyrucq

We know the atmosphere in courtroom itself was quiet, subdued for the most part.

Gisèle Pelicot looked at each man as he was asked to stand, first to be told whether he was guilty or not and then to hear the sentencing.

Dominique Pelicot also stood - it was later reported that, after an impassive performance, he began to cry as he sat in his chair.

His lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, has said that he is still considering the possibility of an appeal.

In fact, Zavarro told me when I asked her about Pelicot’s attitude: “He is fatalistic, as always, as you have seen him be throughout this trial.”

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Avignon

Gisèle has just left court in a car.

Hundreds of people cheered and clapped and sang out her name as she descended the steps of the courthouse she has spent most of her days in since September, alongside the men who raped her - and the husband who betrayed her.

Two women cried and held hands as they shouted “thank you” in unison.

It was an incredibly powerful and emotional moment.

Andrew Harding
Paris correspondent, reporting from Avignon

Through the course of the morning, the crowds gathered outside the Palais de Justice, growing increasingly lively and noisy, shouting at some of the families of the now convicted rapists, and cheering for Gisèle Pelicot herself to come out and speak to them, or to at least acknowledge the crowd.

Within the courtroom, the lobby has been packed - as you can imagine - with lots of journalists and lawyers.

Some of the defence lawyers have spoken critically about the verdicts. Some said that they were less than the prosecution asked for and see that as a success.

Others say the whole process was a rushed trial without sufficient individual time given to each of the accused, which means justice has not been served.

Many are talking about the possibility of appeals in coming days.

Image source, EPA

Gisèle Pelicot has just been speaking outside court. Here's a summary of her remarks:

• She said she respects the court and its verdict
• "We have the same struggle," she told the victims of similar stories "often in the shadows"
• She thanked her supporters, saying their statements moved her and gave her the strength to attend the trial every day
• Gisèle also thanked the association of victims for their help, the journalists who have followed the trial throughout, and her lawyers
• She said never regretted waiving her right to anonymity and "opening the doors" to the trial so that society could see what happened
• "I have confidence in our capacity collectively to find a better future in which men and women alike can live harmoniously together with mutual respect," she concluded

Pelicot continues her thanks, saying: "To my lawyers, finally, I would like to express my recognition and esteem to them".

She says she "never regretted" opening the doors of this trial, "so society could see what was happening".

Looking forward, Pelicot adds that she has "confidence in our capacity collectively to find a better future where women and men alike can live together with mutual respect".

With that, her statement ends. She turns back and re-enters the courthouse.

Image source, Reuters

Gisèle Pelicot also thanks the association of victims, who she says have helped her without fail.

She also thanks journalists who have followed the case from the beginning for treating her respectfully throughout.

Gisèle Pelicot tells the assembled crowd of journalists that she is thinking about her children and grandchildren and all the other families and the victims of stories "often in the shadows, saying "we have the same struggle".

She shares her "profound gratitude" to all the people who supported her during this "difficult ordeal", saying their statements have given her the strength to get through this long trial.

She is speaking in French, and we're hearing what she has to say through a translator on the BBC News Channel.

Image source, EPA

Gisèle Pelicot is speaking outside court in Avignon after her ex-husband and 50 other men were sentenced.

We'll bring you what she has to say - follow her remarks at the top of the page by tapping watch live.

We can now bring you these court sketches of Gisèle Pelicot, pictured as she listened to the verdicts and sentences being read out this morning.

Image source, Benoit Peyrucq

Image source, GBenoit Peyrucq