Dominique Pelicot, 72, who drugged and raped his then wife, also 72, and arranged for other men to come to their home to rape her while she was drugged and unconscious, was given the maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for aggravated rape.

Of the other defendants, aged between 27 and 74, 47 were found guilty of aggravated rape, two were found guilty of sexual assault and two were found guilty of attempted rape. They were given sentences ranging from four to 18 years’ imprisonment.

One co-defendant was found guilty of the attempted rape and aggravated rape of his own wife. Mr Pelicot, who was invited to rape her too, was found guilty of attempted aggravated rape against her.

Mr Pelicot was also found guilty of taking indecent images of his daughter and his two daughters-in-law.

The shocking case made global headlines after Mrs Pelicot waived her anonymity to allow her now ex-husband to be publicly named and declared that shame should fall on him, not on her.

While Mr Pelicot admitted the offences, many of his co-defendants denied rape, claiming – but failing to convince the judges in Avignon – that they believed she was a willing participant in a sex game.