Ten deny running paedophile network in France

Ten men appeared in court in France yesterday accused of organising a network to entrap and bribe poor children into having sex with adults.

The trial is the first in France of an entire, alleged paedophile ring. The defendants, aged from 35 to 70, deny they were part of a network and say the children, all boys, were willing participants. A further suspect is on the run. Two others committed suicide in jail.

A lawyer for Enfant Bleu, a children's support group, claimed yesterday that the network had tentacles all over France and "ramifications in Britain". Maître Jean Chevais said the examining magistrate who led the inquiry did not have time to explore the British connections, which were still under investigation.

The man at the centre of the alleged paedophile ring is Michel Albenque, 49, from Chelles in the outer eastern suburbs of Paris, who has previous convictions for sexual attacks on children in France and Romania.

Prosecutors allege that, between 1989 and 1996, Mr Albenque, who called himself "Tonton Mimi" or Uncle Mimi, approached boys aged between eight and 15 from poor backgrounds with offers of presents, holidays, money and rides in fast cars.

The boys were persuaded to take part in striptease card games, which led to a series of sexual acts.

Parents were sometimes paid off with loans or cash. At one point, Mr Albenque became a lodger in the home of two of his young victims, paying the grocery bills while their alcoholic father spent his dole and family allowances on drink.

Maître Chevais said: "The silence of the children was bought with money, presents and holidays. They were often fragile characters and more easily cowed."

Other members of the alleged ring are said to have approached boys in the Chelles area, close to Melun, or in other parts of France.

The prosecution claims that the victims, 19 in all, were then shared between the members of the network, although no money changed hands.

According to the investigating judge, participants in the alleged network introduced some of its other members to the children and their parents as "educators" or social workers or football trainers.

The defendants are accused of rape and having sex with minors. They face up to 20 years in prison.

Their lawyers say they admit the basic facts but deny that there was an organised paedophile network and insist that the boys were willing participants. The trial, in Melun, is expected to last for two weeks.