'50 Shades of Grey rapist who attacked victims during BDSM sessions including one who was beaten with a riding crop while fitted to a "spreader bar" after he was 'inspired' by the film' goes on trial in France

A man who allegedly raped victims during BDSM sessions inspired by the 50 Shades of Grey films is set to go on trial for two weeks in France from today.

Mauritius-born Ange Bauda, ​​31, will appear before the Vosges Assize Court, in Épinal, accused of rape, aggravated sexual touching and violence against three women - accusations which he denies, claiming his alleged victims are jealous.

Prosecutors say Bauda thought of himself as a real-life Christian Grey - the mysterious billionaire businessman and BDSM enthusiast from the 50 Shades of Grey books, which were adapted into a series of films beginning in 2015.

In the novels, Grey invites protagonist Ana Steele into his BDSM 'play room' and eventually introduces her to the world of sexual dominance and submission.

Bauda is said to have been inspired by the films, but according to his accusers, his actions were far more sinister than those of Grey - and in one case is alleged to have beaten a woman with a riding crop while she was fitted to a 'spreader bar'.

According to reports in France, Bauda was arrested in May 2019 after himself filing a complaint about one of the numerous women he had sexual relations with.

At the time, he told investigators that he had been practising domination for around two years, using equipment such as sex toys, handcuffs, masks, whips, cords and straps - all of which were found during a search of his home.

According to dating websites which Bauda is said to have used to find women, he worked for an electrical hardware store in Epinal, sometimes presenting himself as a deputy director, business manager or building manager.

On his dating profiles, he is reported by French newspaper Le Parisien to have boasted: 'I spank, none of them resist me.'

Investigators tracked down women who crossed paths with Bauda - who Le Parisien reports saw himself as a 'handsome guy' and a 'sex beast' - between 2015 and 2019.

In total, police interviewed 43 women who had relationships with Bauda - varying from a single evening to several years, according to the publication.

Many described him as a 'seducer', 'manipulator', 'liar' and 'stalker' - and as someone who did not hesitate to blackmail women with a sex tape if they dared to refuse him or break off their relationship.

For seven of the women, their erotic encounters with Bauda are alleged to have turned into a nightmare - either for a single night or for a longer relationship.

One said she had to take '25 showers' after being raped by the man.

Another has recalled a humiliating and violent encounter at a motorway rest area.

However, only three accusers have become plaintiffs in a civil suit against Bauda, including a former partner who denounced violence during their relationship.

During the trial, lawyers for the alleged victims will work to demonstrate that Bauda does not know how to distinguish between sexual play and a lack of consent.

Le Parisien reports Bauda justifies his actions by calling them 'games', agreed upon between him and the complainants.

However, lawyers are expected to argue that he did not care about consent with his partners, and that he wanted to 'punish' them.

Even when they did not sign a 'submission contract' with him - as was the case with some of the women spoken to by investigators - he is alleged to have been abusive.

They say he set the rules of their encounters, and gave no heed to safeguards usually put in place by consenting adults who take part in BDSM.

In one case, he is accused of telling an alleged victim: 'You can shove your code red up your a**, because I will do what I want of you' as she was held by a 'spreader bar' while he beat her with a riding crop, Le Parisien reports.

Police and prosecutors are understood to have 2,182 videos and 40,000 messages found on Bauda's mobile phone to draw upon during the trial.

Since he was placed in the Nancy-Maxéville prison in pre-trial detention, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.