Last summer, Remix News posted a video of Miss France 2007, Rachel Legrain-Trapani, describing in harrowing detail how a Moroccan migrant had lurked around her group of friends, asked for a photo, which she kindly agreed to, and then started groping her without her consent.
The 30-year-old man, who reportedly does not speak French very well, has now been sentenced to six months in prison, despite attempting to say his act was “unintentional,” an explanation the court rejected.
The incident took place last July at the Avignon Festival, when Legrain-Trapani was handing out flyers for her show. A group of fans had gathered around her to take selfies, when the Moroccan also requested a photo with her. According to her statement to police, it was then that he grabbed her buttocks.
According to the perpetrator, he said at the time of the incident, as well as during his court appearance, that he had found the woman crying at a café and offered to help, writes Ici. Later, he saw her with fans at a park and decided to get a selfie with the former Miss France as well for his social media profile. Per his report, he put his hand around Legrain-Trapani’s waist, but she then moved, causing his hand to “unintentionally” slide down onto her buttock. He says he then immediately removed it and apologized.
According to the victim, he simply disappeared after the assault.
The prosecutor, who had sough eight months’ imprisonment and a ban from French territory for two years, told the Moroccan: “After six months of the Pelicot trial, I thought it was clear to the people of Vaucluse that a woman’s body belongs only to her.”