'Horror dentist' goes on trial for mutilating hundreds of patients

A Dutchman dubbed the "dentist of horror" by French media went on trial on Tuesday after allegedly causing horrific injuries to the mouths of more than 100 patients in France.

Jacobus van Nierop, 51, ripped out healthy teeth and left dozens of patients in the rural central village of Chateau-Chinon with broken jaws, recurrent abscesses and septicemia.

He is charged with aggravated assault, as well as fraud over claims that he tried to rip off patients and insurance companies, and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $165,000 fine if found guilty.