FORMER US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar has pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual assault.
Nassar, 54, could faces least 25 years in prison but could be jailed for life.
He told the court: “I’m so sorry that this was like a match that turned into a forest fire, out of control.
“I want them to heal. I want this community to heal. I have no animosity toward any one. I just want healing. It’s time.”
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said “You used that position of trust that you had in the most vile way – to abuse children.
“You violated the oath that you took, which is to do no harm, and you harmed them. Selfishly.”
Nassar has been accused of abusing more than 130 women – including Olympic gold medalists Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney.
A number of the accusers testified they were abused during examinations – some while the young athletes’ parents were nearby.
London 2012 champion Douglas said: “I didn’t publicly share my experiences as well as many other things because for years we were conditioned to stay silent and some things were extremely painful.
Nassar has already pleaded guilty to multiple charges of child pornography.
Before his plea plea, Judge Aquilina asked if he wore gloves while abusing his victims between 1998 and his sacking in 2015.
She asked: “[The examinations were not for any medical purposes is that right? It was for your own purpose, is that right?” He replied: “Yes.”
The former doctor – who was stripped of his licence – is due to be sentenced on 12 January.
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