Ex-soccer coach cries through rape case

Former Melbourne Victory women’s goalkeeping coach Sebastian Bechaud has been jailed for the “appalling” rape of a woman he’d met on a dating app.

The French-born former professional soccer player and male model was seen crying consistently in the Victorian County Court as he was sentenced to four years imprisonment on Friday morning.

Bechaud, 35, was found guilty of raping the woman at his West Melbourne apartment on March 10, 2021, at trial earlier this year.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Liz Gaynor said Bechaud had first met the woman on Hinge in October 2020 before they began regularly messaging on WhatsApp.

They first met in February the following year, having consensual sex on four occasions including experimenting with blindfolding after he shared his sexual fantasies.

But, Judge Gaynor said, what began as a consensual sexual encounter on March 10 developed into an “appalling” act of sexual abuse as Bechaud ignored the woman’s screams to stop.

He had begun getting rougher, pinning her to the bed by the neck and spitting in her mouth as she protested and tried to get away.

“She was screaming out that you were hurting her,” Judge Gaynor said.

“In the face of significant and sustained complaints from the complainant you persisted … I am satisfied you placed your sexual satisfaction above the welfare of the complainant.”

The court was told Bechaud messaged the woman three days later saying; “I guess we’re done”.

She responded saying he had hurt her and continued when she didn’t want to: “So yes we’re done”.

“I tried to stop you and leave but you’re too strong … I was literally screaming stop,” she said.

Bechaud responded saying “as if it was that bad” and claiming he was “testing” her.

“You giving me your legs open is consent. You didn’t say anything for a long time,” he wrote.

“It was only a few minutes come on that’s rough sex with a strong man babe.”

Judge Gaynor said it was clear from the contents of the woman’s victim impact statement to the court that the offending had a “significant and detrimental effect”.

“She remains traumatised by the experience of being physically powerless for the period of time,” the judge said.

The court was told Bechaud had moved to Australia to start a new life after an arm injury ended his professional career as a goalkeeper in France and he became disillusioned with modelling work in overseas countries.

Until he was sacked in March 2023, Bechaud had spent much of his time in Australia employed as a soccer coach working his way up to the head goalkeeping coach for the Melbourne Victory Women’s team.

Judge Gaynor said up until this offending he had a successful life, finding she would be “extremely surprised” if Bechaud ever came before a court again.

But she found he had treated the woman as an object and was oblivious to the damage he was inflicting.

“You have unfortunately been forced to learn a lesson in the most serious of terms,” she said.

“Simply deciding a woman is consenting is not enough.

“Anyone engaging in a sexual activity is obliged to ensure the position of their partner and consent is ongoing.”

Judge Gaynor remarked there were some in the community that did not believe sex after consent is withdrawn should be considered rape, but said: “this case makes it very clear why such legislation is necessary”.

“For a person who has purported professionally to be such a supporter of women in the sporting field this is, apart from not being acceptable, it is appalling,” she said.

“Rape is a profoundly damaging crime with serious and long-term consequences.

“This sentence needs to deter men from treating women as sexual objects put on this earth for their pleasure.”

Bechaud will be eligible for parole after serving 20 months in prison and will likely be deported once released.