A former French senator has been handed a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of drugging a female MP with MDMA with the clear intention of sexually assaulting her. Joel Guerriau, 68, must serve 18 months of this term in custody and has been ordered to pay his victim, Sandrine Josso, €5,000 (approximately £4,350) in damages for the severe emotional distress he caused.
Champagne Celebration Turns to Nightmare
The disturbing incident unfolded in November 2023 when Guerriau, who represented Loire-Atlantique in the French Senate from 2011 to 2025, invited Josso to his Paris apartment. The visit was ostensibly to celebrate his re-election, but it quickly descended into horror when Josso began feeling violently unwell after drinking from a champagne glass.
"The drink tasted unusual," Josso, 50, testified. "I thought maybe it was a bad champagne, but when he insisted we toast again, I became seriously alarmed." She noticed her heart racing uncontrollably and managed to leave the flat with a friend's assistance, heading directly to hospital.
Toxicology Reveals Shocking Dosage
Medical tests conducted at the hospital revealed a shocking finding: Josso's system contained three times the typical recreational dose of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. This powerful psychoactive substance had been deliberately administered without her knowledge or consent.
During the trial, Josso described the profound betrayal she felt, stating: "I had gone to visit a friend and I discovered an aggressor. He looked at me insistently, I'd never seen him that way. I didn't want to show him my weakness, because I was worried that if I told him I wasn't feeling well, he would've forced me to lie down."
Defence Claims Accidental Administration
Guerriau offered a starkly different account to the court, claiming the drugging was entirely accidental. He asserted he had been experiencing a difficult period of depression and mental health struggles, and had intended to take the MDMA himself the previous evening.
"In short I am an idiot," Guerriau told the court. "I feel sorry for Sandrine. I am disgusted with myself, with my recklessness and my stupidity." He further attempted to pivot the discussion toward drug awareness, stating: "We don't talk about the effects of these drugs enough. All I want is to speak out on the dangers of these products."
Prosecutor Highlights Bitter Irony
Prosecutor Benjamin Coulon presented compelling evidence that underscored the case's grim irony. He noted that Guerriau, during his parliamentary tenure, had actually voted for legislation that specifically criminalised administering a harmful substance with intent to commit rape or sexual assault.
The court heard how Guerriau's internet search history included queries about ecstasy around the time of the incident, though he claimed to have "no recollection" about these searches, vaguely suggesting "thoughts and ideas just come to you" when travelling.
Profound and Lasting Trauma for Victim
The impact on Sandrine Josso has been severe and enduring. She was forced to take six months of medical leave from her parliamentary duties due to the psychological and physical aftermath. The stress manifested physically, leading to such intense teeth grinding that she required four teeth to be extracted.
"What I went through is still very painful," Josso revealed. "Psychological trauma feels like being frozen in time... I jump at the slightest thing. I've become very vulnerable." Her testimony painted a picture of a life fundamentally altered by the betrayal and violation.
Despite the conviction and sentencing, the legal process continues. Guerriau's defence team has formally lodged an appeal against the verdict, meaning this high-profile case involving a former legislator and a serving MP remains unresolved in the French judicial system.
