Former Politician Guilty of Spiking MP’s Champagne
- A FORMER French senator has been been found guilty of drugging a fellow politician to try adn sexually assault her.
- Joël Guerriau, 68, was found guilty of spiking a glass of champagne which he gave to Sandrine josso, 50, in a case that sent shockwaves through French politics.
- The ex-politician was sentenced to four years in prison for drugging his colleague with the intent to sexually assault her.
A FORMER French senator has been been found guilty of drugging a fellow politician to try adn sexually assault her.
Joël Guerriau, 68, was found guilty of spiking a glass of champagne which he gave to Sandrine josso, 50, in a case that sent shockwaves through French politics.
The ex-politician was sentenced to four years in prison for drugging his colleague with the intent to sexually assault her.
Guerriau was a centrist senator for Loire-Atlantique, western France, when he spiked josso’s drink in November 2023.
National Assembly MP Josso called the verdict “a huge relief”.
It comes months after the case of Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugge
French Politician Sandrine Josso Drugged with MDMA by Colleague
Sandrine Josso, a French politician, was deliberately drugged with a dangerously high dose of MDMA (ecstasy) by a colleague, according to reports. The incident left her with severe physical and psychological trauma, requiring six months of recovery and dental work. As of January 28, 2026, the perpetrator, identified as guerriau, maintains his innocence and plans to appeal his conviction.
The Drugging and Immediate Aftermath
Josso recounted feeling increasingly unwell during a meeting with Guerriau, noting his “heavy-handed” demeanor and a rapidly accelerating heartbeat. She deliberately refrained from asking for water,fearing it would reveal her loss of control.
Upon seeing Guerriau with a sachet of white powder in the kitchen, Josso fabricated an excuse to leave and promptly sought medical attention.
Doctors at the hospital discovered a massive amount of MDMA in her system - more than twice a potentially lethal level.
Health Consequences and Recovery
The drugging caused significant physical and psychological harm to Josso.
She required six months of leave from her work to recover from the ordeal.
The stress induced by the incident also led to bruxism, requiring the removal of four teeth.
Josso described the psychological trauma as feeling ”frozen in time,” leaving her constantly on edge and vulnerable.
“psychological trauma feels like being frozen in time… I jump at the slightest thing. I’ve become very vulnerable.” - sandrine Josso, as reported by French media.
Guerriau’s Defense and Legal Proceedings
Guerriau denied any intention to sexually assault or rape Josso.
He claimed his actions stemmed from personal struggles, including work-related exhaustion, the death of his pet cat, and a family member’s cancer diagnosis.
Though, investigators found that Guerriau had searched online for terms such as “drug and rape,” “effects of ecstasy GHB,” and “GHB sales points” approximately a month before the incident.
He insists these searches were unrelated to the drugging and intends to contest his conviction.
- MDMA (Ecstasy): A psychoactive drug, classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. DEA Fact Sheet on MDMA
- GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate): A central nervous system depressant sometimes used as a “date rape” drug.GHB – Drug Policy