An asylum seeker accused of sexually assaulting six animals, including five goats and a six-month-old lamb, at an animal sanctuary near Marseille, France, has claimed he is a "normal person" despite being caught in the act. Massoud S, 19, from Afghanistan, appeared in court on June 22, 2026, facing charges of animal sexual abuse at Le Refuge d'un Moment sanctuary in Pennes-Mirabeau.
Caught in the Act
Police apprehended Massoud S in April while he was behind a goat with his trousers lowered and wearing latex gloves. Despite this, he denied all charges during his trial at Aix-en-Provence courthouse. DNA evidence further linked him to the crimes, but he maintained his innocence, telling the court: "I'm a normal person."
The abuse occurred between February and April 2026. Sanctuary owner Cassandra Sortino noticed injuries on animals, including rope marks on legs, vulva injuries, and blood. CCTV installed after these discoveries captured a man's silhouette multiple times, with abuse found the following day. Sortino repeatedly presented evidence to police, leading to an operation that caught the suspect in April.
Defense and Mental Health Claims
In mitigation, Massoud S claimed he missed his train back to Marseille, where he lives in an asylum seeker center, and had no choice but to stay overnight at the sanctuary, which was near the train station. He stated he arrived in France in November 2025 after losing his family in wartime bombings in Afghanistan, which he said severely affected his mental health.
A psychiatric assessment during pretrial detention reportedly revealed he told a doctor: "They're making a huge fuss about it when they're just animals." Despite this, the court sentenced him to 30 months in prison, banned him from French territory, and placed him on the register of sexual and violent offenders.
Sanctuary Owner's Reaction
Cassandra Sortino expressed ongoing distress, saying: "We can't explain it morally. We feel like we've failed." The case has drawn attention to animal welfare and the challenges of prosecuting such crimes.
