- Worked as goalkeeping coach in Melbourne’s victory.
- He has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.
- He will probably be deported when he is released.
Former Melbourne Victory women’s goalkeeping coach Sebastian Bechaud has been jailed for the “appalling” rape of a woman he had met on a dating app.
The French-born former professional footballer and male model was seen crying constantly in Victoria County Court as he was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday morning.
Bechaud, 35, was found guilty of raping a woman in his West Melbourne apartment on March 10, 2021 in a trial earlier this year.
Sentencing, Judge Liz Gaynor said Bechaud had first met the woman on Hinge in October 2020 before they began sending regular messages on WhatsApp.
They met for the first time in February the following year and had consensual sex on four occasions, including experimenting with blindfolding after he shared his sexual fantasies.
Former Melbourne Victory women’s goalkeeping coach Sebastian Bechaud will likely be deported once his sentence ends.
But, Judge Gaynor said, what began as a consensual sexual encounter on March 10 turned into a “horrific” act of sexual abuse when Bechaud ignored the woman’s cries for him to stop.
He had started to get rougher, pinning her to the bed by the neck and spitting in her mouth as she protested and tried to escape.
“She was screaming that you were hurting her,” Judge Gaynor said.
“In the face of significant and sustained complaints from the complainant, you persisted… I am convinced that you put your sexual satisfaction above the well-being of the complainant.”
The court was told Bechaud messaged the woman three days later saying; “I guess we’re done.”
She responded by saying he had hurt her and continued when he didn’t want to: ‘So yeah, we broke up.’
“I tried to stop you and leave, but you’re too strong… I was literally screaming stop it,” he said.
The former Victory coach burst into tears when he was sentenced for the rape of the woman
He was sacked from his position at Melbourne Victory after the allegations came to light.
Bechaud responded by saying “like it’s that bad” and stating that 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, baby.”
Judge Gaynor said it was clear from the content of the woman’s impact statement to the court that the offense had a “significant and detrimental effect”.
“She remains traumatized by the experience of being physically helpless during that 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 goalkeeping career in France and he became disillusioned with modeling work in foreign countries.
Until he was sacked in March 2023, Bechaud had spent much of his time in Australia as a football coach, rising to become head goalkeeping coach of the Melbourne Victory women’s team.
Judge Gaynor said that until this offense she had had a successful life and found she would be “extremely surprised” if Bechaud appeared in court again.
Bechaud was sentenced Friday in Victoria County Court.
But she discovered that he had treated the woman like an object and did not realize the damage he was causing her.
“Unfortunately they have been forced to learn a lesson in the most serious terms,” he said.
‘It is not enough to decide that a woman gives her consent.
“Any person who participates in sexual activity is obliged to ensure the position of their partner and that consent is in force.”
Judge Gaynor commented that there were some in the community who did not believe that sexual intercourse after consent was withdrawn should be considered rape, but said: “this case makes it very clear why such legislation is necessary.”
“For a person who has claimed to be such a professional supporter of women in the sporting field, this is, in addition to unacceptable, appalling,” she said.
‘Rape is a deeply damaging crime with serious and long-term consequences.
“This ruling should deter men from treating women as sexual objects placed on this earth for their pleasure.”
Bechaud will be eligible for parole after serving 20 months in prison and will likely be deported upon release.
