The criminal investigation: father, coach, worker without history … and serial rapist for 30 years

Like every Sunday of summer, return to the criminal affairs that have marked our country. Nevertheless, Today, we are interested in Dino Scala, nicknamed the rapist of the Sambre. Therefore, For 30 years, from 1988 to 2018, this man attacked around fifty young women, notably in Erquelinnes. For example, Three years after his trial, he is targeted by a new legal proceedings because former victims have emerged from silence.

In Hainaut, along the French border, the town of Erquelinnes. Therefore, An entity whose tranquility has long been disturbed by the acts of a serial rapist. Moreover, Dino Scala will attack around fifty women in Belgian and French localities in the Sambre valley. Consequently, “Every year we had a rape per year. In addition, criminal investigation: father, coach, worker except a year when we have two, but we know that it is the same rapist, because he employs the same methods each time, he pronounces the same words,” recalls David Lavaux, bourgmestre of Erquelinnes between 1995 and 2024. Meanwhile, But how could this father have escaped the police for three decades?

We are January 18. For example, 2007, it is a winter morning like any other. For example, It’s cold, dark. However, Aurélie. Therefore, 15, leaves her home around 7 am, but while she heads for her bus stop, one hand grabs her in the dark. For example, “A man caught me by the throat. In addition, lifted me with his arm and dragged me behind a house, in a storage room actually, always taking me off the ground so that I criminal investigation: father, coach, worker could move,” she testified then. However, The girl suffers touching before being released by her attacker. Meanwhile, “He explained to me the way I had to take to go back to take my bus. Meanwhile, he just told me when I left not to cry because otherwise he killed me. Therefore, »»

The rapist is not at his first attempt, it is the sixth assault listed in the region. In 2004, he tried to rape a woman along the national 40. In 2006, he attacked another at the back of a DIY store. Additionally, In order not to be recognized, the author surprises his prey by behind in the dark.

Criminal investigation: father, coach, worker

A first robot portrait and criminal investigation: father, coach, worker first DNA analysis after 19 years

Under hypnosis, one of his victims still manages to establish a robot portrait. On July 31. 2007, Didier BLAIR, police inspector in Erquelinnes, detailed: “This rapist, according to the victims, would have an age of about 35-40 years, of normal corpulence but with a small belly from what she describes. He presented a French accent from the North. in one of the facts, a vehicle with French plate was seen by a witness. »»

The same year, DNA analyzes revealed that the rapist committed other facts in Maubeuge in 1988. Man played on his proximity to the border so as not to get caught. His portrait is broadcast in Belgium but not in France because the survey methods of our neighbors criminal investigation: father, coach, worker are somewhat different. “France is very reluctant compared to the robot portrait. in general to calls for the population because it finds that we are overwhelmed by information that requires verification and that it takes time of work,” explains David Lavaux.

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Another 11 years of rape before an attempt near Erquelinnes station

No clue makes it possible to identify the rapist of the Sambre until February 5, 2018. Like every morning, Daphné goes on foot to Erquelinnes station. The young Frenchwoman must take her bus for Binche where she is educated. It is on a path, along the railroad tracks, that she meets her attacker. He threatens it with a knife before assaulting it sexually. She escapes.

This time, it’s criminal investigation: father, coach, worker over: Dino Scala’s car was filmed by surveillance cameras. The bourgmestre at the time remembers: “Car by car. we said: This one is the one who lives in the neighborhood, this one is the one who took the train, etc. Until the moment when we arrive on a vehicle where we say to ourselves: What is this one? And we take up the plate and we transmit to the French authorities. »»

Twenty days later, Dino Scala was arrested at his home.

His dismayed knowledge

In the village of Pont-sur-Sambre, it is dismay. His entourage describes an exemplary, helpful father, a husband, a courageous worker, a sympathetic football coach. Among his neighbors, his friends, he had never aroused the slightest suspicion. “I had complete confidence in this person. that’s what makes you don’t know who we are dealing with,” said his neighbor Thérèse on February 28.

And yet behind this trusted man hides criminal investigation: father, coach, worker a real sexual predator. A man accused for 17 rapes, 12 attempted rapes, 27 assaults or attempted assault. Facts committed in several Belgian and French localities in the Sambre valley over a period of 30 years.

A trial for 56 facts in 2022

It was in June 2022 that his trial took place before the Assize Court of Douai. Finally, victims can express their suffering. Mélanie remembers this fateful day of 1997: “He passed her hand under my clothes and caressed my chest. During this time. I was panicked, so I told him and he said to me “if you cry, I plant you”. »»

Dino Scala. he invokes an instinct for hunter, predator, a need to dominate his victims, sometimes very young women that he will avoid looking at his 10 days of trial. At most, he will laconically present his “apologies to the victims”.

“For the moment. we had confessions with criminal investigation: father, coach, worker the tips of the lips where he told us it is probably me, it is certainly me, it looks like what I was doing, but nothing very precise and very credible,” deplored during this trial Emmanuel Riglaire, the lawyer of two civil parties.

Finally, Dino Scala will eventually recognize 40 facts and will dispute 16. Decognized by 54 facts out of the 56 which were criticized for him. he was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a two -thirds security period.

New charge in May 2025 for 13 other facts

Last May, he was charged for 13 additional facts of sexual violence. Other women had the courage to get out of silence. Some contacted Maître Richard who recalls the importance of a new judgment for the victims.

“These are women who. as I say, had to bury what happened to them at the bottom of them, they had to live with without criminal investigation: father, coach, worker ever a decision that says” here you are the victim and here is the culprit “. Justice must pass, we cannot say that we violate withdrawal, ”said Caty Richard, the lawyer for the civil parties.

Now 64 years old, Dino Scala could therefore again find himself in court. A procedure that should not increase his sentence, but perhaps allow 13 women to finally turn the page.