October 25th 2024.
In a shocking and disturbing case, a former women's coach for the Melbourne Victory soccer team has been sentenced to four years in prison for raping a woman he met on a dating app. The French-born coach, Sebastien Bechaud, 35, appeared via video link from prison and could potentially face deportation after his release.
The court heard that Bechaud met the victim on the dating app Hinge and they had previously engaged in consensual sexual activities, including experimental blindfolding. However, on this particular occasion, Bechaud flipped the woman onto his bed and proceeded to rape her despite her screams for him to stop. He even spat in her mouth and slapped her when she tried to resist.
The victim bravely spoke out about the trauma she has endured since the incident. In a statement read to the court, she described how the rape has affected her interactions with men, including her current partner. She now finds herself physically curling up in a ball as a protective instinct during disagreements, something she never did before the incident.
Judge Liz Gaynor expressed her shock and disgust at Bechaud's actions, particularly as he had previously portrayed himself as a supporter of women in sports. She noted that he treated the victim as an object and showed no regard for the harm he was causing.
After the rape, Bechaud and the victim exchanged messages on WhatsApp, with Bechaud claiming that their encounter was just "rough sex" and that the victim had given her consent. However, the victim made it clear that she had not consented and was screaming for him to stop. She told him that she no longer gave consent when she said stop, to which he replied with "only a few minutes, c'mon."
Bechaud had relocated to Australia in 2015 after his football career ended due to an arm injury. He landed his "dream job" at Victory in 2019 and was even promoted to head goalkeeping coach for the women's team in 2020. However, he was sacked in 2023 after being charged with rape.
The court also heard that Bechaud has already served 80 days in custody and will likely face deportation to France once his sentence is complete. This disturbing case serves as a reminder of the impact of sexual assault and the importance of speaking out and seeking support. For anyone who needs support, there are resources available such as 1800 RESPECT and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
