Former A-League football coach Sebastien Bechaud is attempting to overturn his rape conviction through a legal loophole, just months after being sentenced for a brutal sexual assault on a woman he met through dating app Hinge.
The Brutal Attack and Victim's Ordeal
Sebastien Bechaud, 36, appeared before the Victorian Court of Appeal on Monday seeking to challenge his conviction for a rape that occurred in early 2021. The French national, who previously worked as Melbourne Victory women's head goalkeeping coach, was sentenced to four years imprisonment last October with a minimum 20-month term.
The court heard harrowing details of the assault, during which the victim repeatedly begged Bechaud to stop because he was hurting her. Despite her pleas, the former coach continued the attack, spat in her mouth when she screamed, and prevented her from escaping by grabbing and slapping her.
Bechaud ordered his victim to 'stop moving' during the assault and demanded she 'give me pleasure', the court was told. The woman later described feeling 'trapped' and 'fearful' of her assailant, noting his size and strength as particularly intimidating factors.
Disturbing Text Exchange Revealed
Following the rape, Bechaud engaged in a shocking text exchange with his victim where he callously dismissed her concerns. He claimed he was merely 'testing her limits' and insisted she shouldn't have spoken during the assault.
When the victim asserted that telling him to stop meant consent was withdrawn, Bechaud replied: 'lol giving me your legs is consent.' He later described the violent encounter as 'rough sex with a strong man baby' in the messages presented to the court.
The woman told a friend afterwards that the experience left her feeling 'degrading' and 'very powerless' while Bechaud held her down during the attack.
Legal Challenge and Fall from Grace
Bechaud's appeal centres on a technicality regarding jury procedures. His legal team claims the trial judge erred by allowing the jury to separate during deliberations without each juror having first taken an oath or made an affirmation as required by the Juries Act.
The former coach faces almost certain deportation if his conviction stands, ending his career in Australia where he worked not only in football but also as an international model and NDIS worker.
Melbourne Victory sacked Bechaud from his positions coaching both women's and academy teams after sex crime police charged him in January 2023. He had previously been a promising football talent in France before injury ended his playing career.
During sentencing last year, Judge Liz Gaynor condemned Bechaud's 'very serious sexual offending' and noted he had reduced his victim to 'a situation of fear and powerlessness at the hands of a much bigger, stronger person who was oblivious to her plight.'
The Court of Appeal will deliver its decision on whether to overturn the conviction at a later date.
