A former French senator has been convicted and jailed for spiking a female MP’s drink with ecstasy in a case that has renewed debate over drug-facilitated sexual assault in France.
A French court has convicted former senator Joël Guerriau of spiking the drink of fellow lawmaker Sandrine Josso with ecstasy in an attempted sexual assault case. Guerriau, 68, was sentenced to four years in prison, with 18 months in custody, and ordered to pay €5,000 in damages. His lawyers said he will appeal.
Josso told the court she became unwell after drinking champagne at Guerriau’s home in November 2023, saying, “I had gone to visit a friend and I discovered an aggressor.” Toxicology tests showed three times the recreational dose of MDMA in her blood. Guerriau admitted serving the drink but denied intent to assault her.