Former French Senator Convicted for Drugging and Assaulting MP

Tue Feb 03 2026 20:31:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Joel Guerriau was sentenced to four years in prison for spiking Sandrine Josso's drink with ecstasy, leading to emotional trauma and a landmark case against drug-facilitated assaults.

Joel Guerriau, a former French senator, has been sentenced to four years in prison for drugging MP Sandrine Josso with ecstasy. The court confirmed that Josso suffered emotional distress after Guerriau invited her to his home and spiked her drink during a celebration. Guerriau maintains that the act was an accident, while Josso has emerged as a campaigner against chemical submission following her traumatic experience.

A former French senator has been found guilty of spiking an MP's drink with ecstasy in an attempt to sexually assault her.

Joel Guerriau received a four-year prison sentence, with 18 months to be served in jail, and was ordered to pay Sandrine Josso €5,000 (£4,348) for emotional distress, as per local media reports.

The incident occurred in November 2023 when Guerriau, now 68, invited Josso, 50, to his Paris flat. He admitted to serving her a drink laced with MDMA but claimed it was accidental and denied any malicious intent.

After the verdict was delivered, Josso expressed relief, stating it was a huge relief. Guerriau's legal representatives have indicated plans to appeal the ruling.

According to court documents cited by French media, Josso recounted how she felt unwell after drinking from a champagne glass during what was supposed to be a celebratory visit to Guerriau's home, following his re-election three years ago.

I had gone to visit a friend, and I discovered an aggressor, she testified. Josso further elaborated on her distress during her testimony, saying, He looked at me insistently, I'd never seen him that way. I didn't want to show him my weakness...

Following the alarming effect of the drink, Josso sought medical help, where a toxicology report confirmed she had three times the typical recreational dose of MDMA in her bloodstream.

Guerriau claimed he had intended to consume the drug himself the night before but accidentally offered the laced drink to Josso instead. He expressed his regret in court, saying, I feel sorry for Sandrine. I am disgusted with myself, with my recklessness and my stupidity.

Amid the trial, Josso has risen to become a vocal advocate against drug-facilitated sexual assaults, sharing her difficult journey of coping with the psychological impacts of the attack. What I went through is still very painful, she lamented, describing her trauma and how it alters her life.

Josso's dedication to fighting against chemical submission continues, having joined an association founded by Caroline Darian, whose own experience echoes the systemic issues plaguing victims of such crimes.

Guerriau, previously affiliated with the centre-right Horizons party, was suspended from his position upon the onset of the allegations and subsequently resigned as a senator in October.