An individual accused of sexually assaulting and violating 16 clients in Arras is set to stand trial starting this Friday, September 4. The accused, a 54-year-old former tattoo artist from Arras, is appearing before the criminal court in Saint-Omer. The alleged offenses reportedly occurred between 2006 and 2023, and at least 16 victims—former clients—have come forward with accusations. The man denies the charges and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He was arrested in October 2023 after a client filed a complaint, and he has been in provisional custody since then. According to Me Emmanuel Riglaire, the lawyer representing one of the civil parties, the accused allegedly targeted women of all ages and backgrounds, exploiting his position as a tattoo artist to commit the alleged offenses. Riglaire stated that the victims were not at fault and that the accused was unable to control his behavior. He emphasized the need to protect the public from this individual and to help the victims, many of whom were described as vulnerable, heal from the trauma they endured. Victims reportedly described similar methods used by the tattoo artist, including threats of harm using his equipment, making unwanted sexual comments, offering free services in exchange for favors, and physically forcing them to undress. The accused had previously been convicted in the early 2010s for sexually assaulting a client while working as a tattoo artist in Lille. He received a two-year prison sentence, with six months suspended, and was banned from tattooing and piercing for five years. Despite this, he reopened his business in Arras in 2018. Riglaire criticized the justice system for allowing him to return to his profession and for not taking sufficient steps to prevent further harm. He expressed frustration over the situation, stating that the accused had "mocked the world." Throughout the proceedings, the accused has denied the allegations, dismissing the victims' accounts and suggesting they were motivated by a desire for financial compensation or jealousy from a competitor. Riglaire criticized this response, calling it an easy way to avoid accountability. The accused's lawyer, Mathieu Strubbe, declined to comment on the case before the trial began. The trial is expected to last one week, with a verdict anticipated on Friday, September 11.