A 36-year-old former handball coach has been convicted of sexually assaulting one of his players during a team bonding trip nearly two years ago, a court in Pontoise has ruled.
Victim Describes Devastating Impact
The young woman, identified in court only as Emma, told the tribunal on Tuesday, September 15, that the assault had shattered her life.
“This story has affected me deeply. In fact, I lost everything,” she told the hearing.
Emma, who was 25 at the time of the attack, was a member of a handball club in Cergy, in the Val-d’Oise department north of Paris. The man convicted, identified as Yohan, was her coach at the time.
The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended. Prosecutor Mathilde Séguret had sought a 15-month suspended sentence.
Events of August 2021
The incident dates back to August 2021, when Emma and her teammates were taking part in a team-building retreat in Songeons, in the Oise department.
The evening began with a barbecue at which Emma drank heavily and became unwell, vomiting. Two of her friends helped her back to her room.
Yohan then went upstairs and told the two women they could go back down and enjoy the evening, saying he would take care of Emma.
Court Hears Victim’s Testimony
Emma’s decision to testify in open court underscored the lasting trauma she says the assault inflicted on her. Her account formed the central evidence in a case that has drawn attention to the vulnerability of young athletes in club settings, where coaches often hold significant authority over players’ personal and professional lives.
The suspended sentence means Yohan will not serve prison time unless he commits another offence during a set probationary period.
